ECFA Standards

 

       Equipping Leaders International is fully accredited by the Evangelical Council on Financial   Accountability and fully endorses and practices the standards set by the Council.

      ECFA is committed to helping Christ-centered organizations earn the public’s trust through developing and maintaining standards of accountability that convey God-honoring ethical practices.

 

 

Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™

Standard 1 – Doctrinal Issues

Every organization shall subscribe to a written statement of faith clearly affirming a commitment to the evangelical Christian faith or shall otherwise demonstrate such commitment and shall operate in accordance with biblical truths and practices.

Standard 2 – Governance

Every organization shall be governed by a responsible board of not less than five individuals, a majority of whom shall be independent, who shall meet at least semiannually to establish policy and review its accomplishments.

Standard 3 – Financial Oversight

Each organization shall prepare complete and accurate financial statements. The board or a committee consisting of a majority of independent members shall approve the engagement of an independent certified public accountant, review the annual financial statements and maintain appropriate communication with the independent certified public accountant. The board shall be apprised of any material weaknesses in internal control or other significant risks.

Standard 4 – Use of Resources and Compliance with Laws

Every organization shall exercise the appropriate management and controls necessary to provide reasonable assurance that all of the organization’s operations are carried out and resources are used in a responsible manner and in conformity with applicable laws and regulations, such conformity taking into account biblical mandates.

Standard 5 – Transparency

Every organization shall provide a copy of its current financial statements upon written request and shall provide other disclosures as the law may require. The financial statements required to comply with Standard 3 must be disclosed under this standard.

An organization must provide a report, upon written request, including financial information on any specific project for which it has sought or is seeking gifts.

Standard 6 – Related-party Transactions – Effective until December 31, 2013

Every organization shall avoid conflicts of interest. Transactions with related parties may be undertaken only if all of the following are observed:  1) a material transaction is fully disclosed in the financial statements of the organization; 2) the related party is excluded from the discussion and approval of such transaction; 3) a competitive bid or comparable valuation exists; and 4) the organization’s board has acted upon and demonstrated that the transaction is in the best interest of the organization.

Standard 6 – Compensation and Related Party Transactions – Effective January 1, 2014

Every organization shall set compensation of its top leader and address related-party transactions in a manner that demonstrates integrity and propriety in conformity with ECFA’s Policy for Excellence in Compensation-Setting and Related-Party Transactions.

Standard 7 – Stewardship of Charitable Gifts

7.1 Truthfulness in Communications

In securing charitable gifts, all representations of fact, descriptions of the financial condition of the organization, or narratives about events must be current, complete, and accurate. References to past activities or events must be appropriately dated. There must be no material omissions or exaggerations of fact, use of misleading photographs or any other communication which would tend to create a false impression or misunderstanding.

7.2 Giver Expectations and Intent

Statements made about the use of gifts by an organization in its charitable gift appeals must be honored. A giver’s intent relates both to what was communicated in the appeal and to any instructions accompanying the gift, if accepted by the organization. Appeals for charitable gifts must not create unrealistic expectations of what a gift will actually accomplish.

7.3 Charitable Gift Communication

Every organization shall provide givers appropriate and timely gift acknowledgments.

7.4 Acting in the Best Interest of Givers

When dealing with persons regarding commitments on major gifts, an organization’s representatives must seek to guide and advise givers to adequately consider their broad interests.

An organization must make every effort to avoid knowingly accepting a gift from or entering into a contract with a giver that would place a hardship on the giver or place the giver’s future well-being in jeopardy.

7.5 Percentage Compensation for Securing Charitable Gifts

An organization may not base compensation of outside stewardship resource consultants or its own employees directly or indirectly on a percentage of charitable contributions raised.

 

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Board of Trustees

ELI is governed by a strategic policy oriented Board of Trustees, i.e. a Board that thinks strategically, allowing future priorities to determine present decisions. It plans its work and works it plan to accomplish specific objectives effectively. The Board implements its policies through an Executive Director.

dave-watson-portraint

C. David Watson, JD
Senior Counsel for Reynolds Consumer Products

ashlock-portrait

Richard Ashlock
Owner, Sales, Purchasing for Avodah Purchasing Group

cliff-mongomery

Clifford Montgomery, CFA
Owner and Portfolio Manager for Scotia Parters, LLC

 

Vicki Kloosterhouse_headshot

Vicki Kloosterhouse, PhD
Speaker, Trainer, Coach

 

Dr. Daniel Steere, PhD

Project Director, Equipping Leaders International

 

Michael Hicks, MBA

Senior Consultant for Telecommunications Consulting Services

don-suit-books

Donald Mountan, MDiv
Executive Director, Equipping Leaders International, Inc.

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