(MONEY Magazine) – This year's most cost-efficient religious charity, The Navigators, is an evangelical group that's doing just fine without a charismatic, self-promoting leader of the Jimmy Swaggert/Jim Bakker stripe. That's the legacy of founder Dawson Trotman, a lumberyard driver who began going to church 68 years ago at the behest of a girlfriend. He soon created The Navigators, adopting an "each one teach one" philosophy: Recruits learn about religion and then spread the word to others. Today his inspiration to have lay-people spread Christianity outside of churches has made The Navigators a $57 million organization with a network of 1,800 full-time, non-ordained ministers throughout the U.S. To contain expenses (84% of income goes for programs), the group eliminated three layers of management in 1991 by cutting out regional levels of leadership.

The Navigators' headquarters is Glen Eyrie, a 700-acre property in Colorado Springs that includes natural rock sculptures, lush woods and a 67-room Tudor castle, all acquired at a bargain price. Only 180 staffers are based there. The Navigators' ministers, typically husband-and-wife teams, work out of their homes or offices. From there, they target their efforts to inner-city youth, college students, the military and employees whose businesses permit discussions of Christianity. To cover living and program expenses, each minister recruits 50 to 80 local donors, who give money to the charity. Once these volunteers recruit enough of their own donors, they become full-time missionaries themselves.

RELIGION RANKING

Rank/charity/telephone number Okay with the top two watchdogs (HH); one (H); none (-) Income in millions;Program spending as a % of income Comments