Most giving advice tells you to check a charity's Form 990 and its watchdog rating. For many ministries, neither exists. Churches are not required to file, and small ministries may file only a brief postcard.
At Champion Factory Ministry, we believe careful questions are part of faithful giving. Paul made sure a gift for believers in Jerusalem was handled in the open (2 Corinthians 8:20-21). A ministry worthy of your trust should welcome your questions, show its work in specific detail, and protect the dignity of the people it serves. The checks below work with or without a 990.
How Do You Verify a Faith-Based Charity Is Legitimate?
Start with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Enter the ministry's legal name or its EIN, the nine digit tax ID. The results show whether it can receive tax-deductible gifts, what it files each year, and whether its status was ever revoked.
If the EIN is not on the ministry's website, ask for it.
Reading Your IRS Search Results
- Pub. 78 data confirms the organization can receive tax-deductible contributions.
- Filings show any Form 990 or Form 990-N. A 990-N gives no financial details, so it says nothing about spending.
- The revocation list matters because an organization that skips required filings for three consecutive years automatically loses its tax-exempt status.
Proverbs 14:15 (NIV) says, "The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps."
Is It a Red Flag if a Ministry Has No Rating or Form 990?
Say the ministry you want to support shows as not rated and has no Form 990 online. By itself, that is usually not a red flag. Many ministries are not eligible for ratings or are not required to file. Ask the ministry directly.
The IRS excepts churches, interchurch organizations of local units of a church, and conventions or associations of churches from the annual return.
Why Not Rated Does Not Mean Not Trustworthy
Charity Navigator must receive at least three electronically filed Form 990s within the past six years to rate a charity. Laura Andes of Charity Navigator told the Minnesota Star Tribune that "the lack of transparency for an established organization should be a question mark."
Paul Built Accountability Into the Offering
2 Corinthians 8:20-21 (NIV) says, "We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man." Paul sent a brother chosen by the churches to travel with the gift.
"Paul planned for scrutiny before the money moved. A ministry board should do the same, so donor questions already have answers." Art Montgomery, Global Evangelism Strategy Architect & Board Visionary Luminary
What Should a Trustworthy Ministry Be Able to Show You?
1 John 3:18 (NIV) says, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." For a ministry, that means showing what a project costs, what has happened so far, and what it does not do.
In BBB Give.org's 2026 Donor Trust Report, donors who look for information before giving were most influenced by charities' own websites (54 percent) and third-party monitors (39 percent).
Two Examples From Our Cause Pages
- Itemized budget. The computer lab cause for our Mexico school lists each item and quantity, including 10 desktops, 10 webcams, and 4 battery backup units, toward a $15,000 goal.
- Dated progress. The classroom cause reports that as of September 2026, both steel containers had been cut, framed, sealed, primed, and painted and had left the fabrication yard, and the crew had poured the foundations.
Questions to Ask Before You Give
- What exactly will my gift fund?
- What do you not do, and who do you partner with?
Sandra Miniutti of Charity Navigator put it plainly: "Reputable charities welcome questions."
"A donor's hard question is care for the people that gift will reach. We would rather answer it before the gift than after." Todd Medina, President & Founder
Why Might a Good Ministry Keep the People It Serves Private?
Because protecting people is part of caring for them. In recovery work with people affected by trafficking, exploitation, or abuse, sharing names, faces, or personal stories can put them at risk and take away their dignity. Keeping those details private is responsible, not secretive.
What Transparency Looks Like in Recovery Work
Our Rescue and Recovery program explains that its work focuses on support and recovery in partnership with appropriate organizations and resources that help ensure safety and stability. That clear scope gives you something to evaluate without exposing anyone.
If someone you know needs help, start with a professional counselor, medical provider, or legal advocate.
How Can You Avoid Charity Scams and Pressure to Give?
Picture a message saying a ministry needs your gift today, by gift card. Stop and look the ministry up yourself. The FTC warns that scammers rush people and ask for cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or money transfers. A real ministry will still welcome your gift after you check.
The FTC advises searching a charity's name with words like "complaint" or "scam," double-checking names that sound like real charities, and paying by credit card. Report suspected fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Warning Signs in an Appeal
- Emotional stories that say little about what the charity is doing about the problem, a concern raised by Bennett Weiner of BBB's Give.org
- Guilt about the size of your gift
Giving Freely, Not Under Pressure
2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV) says, "For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have." Paul wrote it while urging the Corinthians to finish a pledged collection according to their means. A yearly giving plan makes it easier to say not yet.
Give With Clear Questions and a Settled Heart
Start with the IRS search. If a ministry has no rating, ask what it can show you. Then pray over the decision and give freely. Questions about our work? Contact us, explore our current causes, or see how to give. This article is general information, not tax or legal advice.
FAQ
Can I Choose Where My Gift Goes?
Often, yes. Our giving FAQ explains that when available, you can give toward specific initiatives or causes, or allow your gift to support areas of greatest need. Ask any ministry how it reports on designated gifts.
How Do I Evaluate a Ministry That Works Overseas?
Ask whether it runs programs or supports local partners. Champion Factory Ministry formally adopted several orphanage missions in the Philippines and coordinates each clothing shipment with missionaries on the ground. It does not operate these orphanages. It supports the people who do.
