My purpose in re-posting this is not to discredit TBN (the Trinity Broadcasting Network) but to point out what should be obvious: "The love of money is the root of all evil" (I Timothy 6:10).
We have seen many other ministries abuse their funds and those who contribute to this one might want to prayerfully consider send their donations to ministries that need and use them more effectively. This is just FYI:
From www.fishthe.net
Facts regarding the financial affairs of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) should cause donors to prayerfully
consider supporting other Christian ministries that will achieve the donor's objective in a manner that
is more transparent and reveals a more efficient and effective use of contributed funds. Huge excess
funds, high salaries and very low spending on ministry purposes are grave concerns for donors particularly
when so many other worthy ministries are struggling to find the money to meet the needs of the people the
Lord has called them to serve.
MinistryWatch Take:
MinistryWatch. com believes donors are entitled to make an educated and knowledgeable giving decision
based on all the facts about a ministry. Regarding TBN, donors should know:
• TBN presently has cash, short term investments and long term investments of about $280 million. This
huge cash stockpile should be spent on their charitable purpose and not built ever higher each
year. Yet, TBN continues to ask donors for more money without disclosing how much they already
have.
• The salaries for TBN founders Paul and Jan Crouch were $403,700 and $361,000 respectively for
2002 (the last year such numbers are available). This total of $764,700 is considerably higher than the
average for executive pay for nonprofits.
• The profits earned by TBN over the past five years amount to $285 million, which raises questions
about the claims that Paul and Jan Crouch make regarding the need for additional ministry funding.
The profits TBN reports annually are actually larger than the total yearly financial needs of most ministries
in the www.MinistryWatch. com database!
• Most ministries are struggling financially, but still scrimp on salaries and overhead expenses in order to
provide aid and comfort to the needy or reach the lost. TBN, however, is financially well off compared
to other ministries but spends shockingly little on its charitable programs. TBN's 2002 program expenses
are extremely low at 46%, when compared to the www.MinistryWatch. com database average
at about 80%. Additionally, TBN's 2002 savings rate is high at about 36% compared to Wall Watchers'
ministry database average of around zero.
• TBN refuses to release consolidated audited financial statements, giving it a Transparency grade of `C'
and making it impossible for MinistryWatch to fully and accurately analyze the financial operations of
TBN on behalf of donors.
• Questions regarding an extravagant lifestyle for the couple remain unanswered.
MinistryWatch recommends that donors to TBN strongly consider redirecting their giving to one of the
many scripturally sound, needy ministries that can be found in our www.MinistryWatch.com database. 
