Word on Fire Catholic Ministries
Word on Fire Catholic Ministries reported $30.7 million in revenue and $26.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $54.84 went to program services, $30.46 to management and general costs and $14.70 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 49.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $228,165 (Senior Director of the Word on Fire Institute). 22 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 233% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $26MFor context, the median across 290 covered religion-related charities: $88.39 programs, $9.62 management, $1.99 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $31MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 54.8% | 86.0% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 30.5% | 9.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 14.7% | 1.9% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.26 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 49.1% | 83.4% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 29.1% | 2.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $228,165 | $276,040 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.87% | 1.40% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 22 | 4 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 23.0 | 12.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 of 11 | 90.9% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseWORD ON FIRE BOOKSTORE Word on Fire continued its unprecedented growth in Catholic publishing, releasing 34 new titles and earning a record-breaking 34 honors at the 2025 Catholic Media Association Book Awards. We expanded our impact on young readers through the Word on Fire Votive imprint, releasing our first children's Bible, The Story of All Stories, which was a huge success. A major milestone was reached with the release of The Word on Fire Bible: Volume V (Exile and Return), pushing this groundbreaking series past its halfway point. Through our Works of Mercy Fund, we distributed over…
WORD ON FIRE INSTITUTE Word on Fire Institute continued to expand its mission of forming and equipping Catholics for evangelization, reaching a new milestone of over 30,000 active members during the fiscal year. The Institute provided members with comprehensive formation through online courses, engaged communities and specialized development tracks designed to deepen understanding of the faith and prepare individuals to evangelize effectively in today's world. A highlight was inaugural Lenten Retreat featuring Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., which garnered 4,200 participants. During this period…
WORD ON FIRE MEDIA Word on Fire Media significantly expanded its evangelical reach, headlined by Bishop Barron's keynote address to over 50,000 pilgrims at the National Eucharistic Congress, which broadcasted the Gospel to a global audience. The YouTube channel achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 2 million subscribers, doubling its base from the previous year and generating record engagement through "Sunday Sermons "Bishop Barron Presents." To celebrate the apostolate's 25th anniversary, we launched a major documentary project on French Gothic architecture and initiated the "10,000…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Director of the Word on Fire Institute Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $205,203 | $0 | $22,962 | $228,165 |
| Senior Development Director Director/trustee, 40.0 hrs/week | $182,828 | $0 | $11,066 | $193,894 |
| Senior Director of Marketing & Sales Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $166,390 | $0 | $21,582 | $187,972 |
| Senior Publishing Director Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $174,689 | $0 | $4,651 | $179,340 |
| Senior Director of Technology Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $141,298 | $0 | $22,120 | $163,418 |
| Fellow for Persons with Intellectual & Development Disabilities Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $140,461 | $0 | $22,165 | $162,626 |
| CEO & Executive Producer Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $96,982 | $0 | $11,051 | $108,033 |
| Director Director/trustee, 40.0 hrs/week | $86,774 | $0 | $1,772 | $88,546 |
22 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Word on Fire Catholic Ministries (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $184K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b11 · 8 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 583
- Volunteers Part I, line 620
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses onlyIndividuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to Word on Fire Catholic Ministries totaling $70,355 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Word on Fire Catholic Ministries's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Word on Fire Catholic Ministries spent in FY2025, $54.84 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All religion-related charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Word on Fire Catholic Ministries reported that 54.8% of its $26.2 million in expenses went to program services, 30.5% to management and general and 14.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Word on Fire Catholic Ministries pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Word on Fire Catholic Ministries reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $228,165, for the role of Senior Director of the Word on Fire Institute (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Word on Fire Catholic Ministries get its money?
Of $30.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 49.1% came from contributions and grants and 29.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Word on Fire Catholic Ministries a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 26-1448551 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202601349349310625 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202500429349301145 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202441349349308534 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321359349316932 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211369349313596 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101379349307485 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 26-1448551: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.