New Membership Milestone Marks 50 Percent Increase over Previous Years' Growth; Greatest Increase Ever 

Contact: Ty Mays, 770-256-8710, tmays@inchristcommunications.com

WINCHESTER, Va., Nov. 29, 2011 /Standard Newswire/ -- With the accreditation of more than 150 new churches and parachurch organizations to date this year as members of ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability), membership has risen to 1,600, an increase that is 50 percent greater than all previous years.

HOPE South Florida (www.hopesouthflorida.org), a Christian-based nonprofit that assists the homeless and hurting in Broward County through services and partnerships with the Christian community, has become the 1,600th member of ECFA.

"Obtaining ECFA accreditation not only serves as a measure of assurance to our ministry's many supporters, but also helps us ensure that our organization is truly operating with the highest level of fiscal integrity and professionalism possible," said Robin Martin, executive director of HOPE South Florida. 

This year ECFA will accredit between 150 and 160 churches and Christian nonprofit organizations, a figure that is nearly 50 percent higher than any previous year. The last two years, three years or four years combined mark the highest growth period in any two years, any three years or any four years in ECFA's history. ECFA has launched an accreditation initiative to raise its membership to 3,000 members by 2020.

"The greatest way to inform the faith-based nonprofit community about the value of ECFA is by word of mouth from our members," said Dan Busby, ECFA president. "Achieving this 1,600th member milestone is a testament to their faithfulness and willingness to share the stories of their positive experiences with ECFA’s mission and ministry."

Busby said surveys show that ECFA membership factors significantly into donation decisions. Donors increasingly look for the ECFA seal of integrity, accountability and sound financial practices before they give to Christian charities, he said.

More than 35 million givers annually provide in excess of $13 billion in gifts to ECFA members, according to Busby.

ECFA, founded in 1979, provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with the ECFA standards pertaining to financial accountability, fundraising and board governance. To learn more about ECFA, including information about accreditation and a listing of ECFA-accredited members, visit www.ecfa.org or call 1-800-323-9473.

To schedule an interview with Dan Busby, Robin Martin or an ECFA staff member, contact Ty Mays at 770-256-8710 or tmays@inchristcommunications.com.