What are the donations funding? $21.1 million investment in audiovisual tech

Published and written by: Miss Usato, May 22nd, 2025

The Jehovah’s Witness organization is always asking for more donations. And if you’re like a lot of us—former members, current doubters, or just observant—you’ve probably started asking: Where is all this money actually going?

What Are the Donations Funding?

A recent 2025 Governing Body Update #3 gave us a pretty loud answer. On JWBroadcasting, Governing Body Member Mark Sanderson announced that they’re approving $21.1 million to be spent over the next three years, not for humanitarian aid, not for helping struggling members, but for audio and visual equipment for African conventions.

That’s right. Over twenty million dollars on tech for events. It’s just the latest example of how this religion-turned-corporation is doubling down on production value instead of actual people.

And this isn’t new. A leaked internal video from 2017 already showed this was their direction. In it, a representative literally said, “This is where the future is,” pointing to their shiny new audiovisual operations. It wasn’t about care or support—it was about broadcast.

It feels more like a media empire than a religious community. Not just that, but

A Business, Not a Brotherhood

Let’s be honest: This Organization is a business. The Governing Body acts like a board of executives.

Some of the most telling signs?

Leadership is disposable. Even Governing Body members like Anthony Morris III are quietly removed, along with their videos, when no longer useful. (You can see removed videos from their site on here, under ‘removed videos’ on the home page) Bethelites, special pioneers, and others are also dropped once they age out or become too expensive.
There’s no transparency. Members are encouraged—guilt-tripped, really—to donate “voluntarily,” but there’s no clear reporting on where that money goes. It’s certainly not going to the everyday Witnesses struggling to make rent or feed their families, since they discourage higher education.
They preach simplicity while living in comfort. The Governing Body tells Witnesses to live “modestly,” while they enjoy financial security, global travel, and all expenses paid by the very people they ignore.

They’ve created a cycle in which members give everything—time, money, energy—while getting nothing in return but guilt and control. All the while, the organization builds fancy studios, funds global media rollouts, and pours millions into tech and branding. Not to mention millions in legal fees, -ahem, look up Philip Brumley in our search box.

Where is the accountability?

Above is a 2024 Assembly in Africa. As you can see, there is no shade and insufficient seating in the hot sun. Kids are standing all over. But at least they didn’t forget a donation box on the right beside their baptism pool. Do you think the millions of dollars toward “audiovisual tech” include proper shade, seating, water, and accommodations for the comfort of their followers? While they spend their time and money attending these events?

The Governing Body often speaks of “trusting Jehovah” and “living simply,” but these values apply only to the rank-and-file. While Witnesses give up careers, education, and retirement plans to pioneer or serve at Bethel, the leadership lives well, secure in their positions and needs, surrounded by caretakers and provided for by the labor and donations of others.

Meanwhile, individual Witnesses who are left in financial crisis due to organizational expectations are met with silence. There is no real safety net, no retirement, no healthcare system, and no real support.

The Organization, led by the Governing Body, built a machine that runs on volunteer labor, unquestioned loyalty, and a constant flow of money. The Organization has billions, built on its followers ‘ hard-earned money. Yet they collect money from the poor as well, instead of helping them. But as more people ask, “Where are our donations going?” the cracks in the spiritual facade become more obvious. Good examples of how this Organization works can be found in various articles and videos, but a good one is by Larchwood- another advocate adding transparency to the organization’s truths:

Listen to the opening prayer at the Annual Meeting where the brother thanks Jehovah for the nonprofit corporation that is the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. It’s what Jesus wants.

If you have an example of how the Jehovah’s Witness organization has acted like a profit-focused corporation, share it. These stories matter — and accountability starts with speaking the truth.