Membership Standards

CAFO welcomes Individuals, Nonprofit Organizations, Churches and Global Networks as members.

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Each Membership Type has unique requirements to ensure the highest level of excellence and integrity for all CAFO Members. All members are asked to affirm our Statement of Faith, Guiding Principles and Core Commitments.

CAFO Statement of Faith

We align with Christian tradition in the Nicene Creed.

Guiding Principles

Our nine guiding principles are based in Scripture and guide our community.

Core Commitments

We hold five core commitments in all our work and practice.

Member Nonprofit Organizations

Member Organizations are required to embody the highest commitment to financial integrity, good governance and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Members represent the full continuum of response to orphans worldwide—including many of the most admired names in adoption, domestic foster care, global orphan care, family preservation and advocacy.

As part of the membership application, organizations must affirm CAFO’s Statement of Faith, CAFO’s Guiding Principles and Core Commitments and ECFA’s 7 Standards of Financial Stewardship.

Organizations will also be asked to submit: (1) their most recent 990 form, (2) a recommendation letter from a CAFO or ECFA member, (3) acknowledgement of ECFA membership or annual audits and (4) annual dues.

ECFA’s Seven Standards of Financial Stewardship

Used and edited for CAFO purposes with permission. For further information visit ecfa.org.

Every member shall subscribe to a written statement of faith clearly affirming its commitment to the evangelical Christian faith and shall conduct its financial and other operations in a manner which reflects those generally accepted biblical truths and practices.

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

Each member is required to prepare complete and accurate financial statements. Accredited members with annual cash contributions of $3 million or more must submit an annual audit performed by an independent certified public accounting (CPA) firm in accordance with U.S. generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) with its financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). ECFA policies allow for CPA reviewed financial statements for organizations with annual cash contributions of $2-$3 million and a CPA compiled financial statement for those organizations below $2 million. The compiled or reviewed financial statements must be prepared in conformity with either U.S. GAAP or the modified cash basis of accounting including fixed assets and depreciation. The board or a committee consisting of a majority of independent members shall review the annual financial statements and maintain direct communication between the board and the independent certified public accountants. The board shall be apprised of any material weaknesses in internal control or other significant risks.

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

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.

Every member shall comply with each of the ECFA Standards for fund-raising:

  • 7.1 Truthfulness in Communication: All representations of fact, description of the financial condition of the member, or narrative 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 or 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 must not create unrealistic donor expectations of what a donor’s gift will actually accomplish within the limits of the member’s ministry.
  • 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 Fund-raisers: Compensation of outside fund-raising consultants or a member’s own employees based directly or indirectly on a percentage of charitable contributions raised is not allowed.

Member Churches

Member Churches must hold convictions consistent with the CAFO’s Statement of Faith, CAFO’s Guiding Principles and Core Commitments and share a desire to see God’s people equipped to defend the fatherless. Many of the nation’s strongest church orphan ministries are CAFO members, both receiving and giving mutual support as part of the community.

Individual Members

Individual Members stand committed to CAFO’s Statement of Faith and its mission. Through their own spheres of influence, as well as through their annual dues, they aid the ongoing work of the CAFO community.

Global Network Members

Global Networks must affirm CAFO’s Statement of Faith and hold convictions consistent with CAFO’s Guiding Principles and Core Commitments. (all three link to About page) All Networks must affirm the Better Together vision, sharing the same desire to see every child in a loving family, embraced within a collaborative community.

View Global Networks membership standards.

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