The Word for the World USA
The Word for the World USA reported $12.8 million in revenue and $12.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $86.78 went to program services, $6.50 to management and general costs and $6.72 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $127,653 (CEO). 1 person received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 289% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $13MFor 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
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.8% | 86.0% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.7% | 1.9% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.5% | 83.4% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 2.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $127,653 | $276,040 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.01% | 1.40% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 5.1 | 12.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 4 of 5 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseRecruiting, training and assisting bible translators working in languages into which the bibles has never been translated. Training nationals to translate the bible for their own people. Providing the organizational infrastructure to channel finances for bible translation projects. Providing technical support through bible translation consultants to ensure quality translations of the bible. Initiating and managing literacy programs to teach people to read and write. TWFTW USA is part of an alliance of organizations linked in mission and purpose, working in more than 35 countries with a…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $71,859 | $0 | $55,794 | $127,653 |
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $111,166 | $0 | $8,980 | $120,146 |
1 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Word for the World USA (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $248K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b5 · 4 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 2No
- 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 518
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to The Word for the World USA totaling $19 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 The Word for the World USA's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Word for the World USA, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Word for the World USA spent in 2025, $86.78 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Vaad Harabbanim L'Inyanei TzedukaLakewood, NJ · revenue $13M · programs 95.7% · 2024
- The Catholic Community Fund of the Archdiocese of BostonBraintree, MA · revenue $13M · programs 94.4% · FY2023
- NextbookNew York, NY · revenue $13M · programs 76.3% · 2024
- Iyun HaparshaBrooklyn, NY · revenue $13M · programs 99.8% · 2024
- Anchor RidgeNorth Wilkesboro, NC · revenue $13M · programs 99.8% · 2024
All religion-related charities · Largest charities in Colorado
Questions people ask
How much of The Word for the World USA's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, The Word for the World USA reported that 86.8% of its $12.7 million in expenses went to program services, 6.5% to management and general and 6.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Word for the World USA pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Word for the World USA reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $127,653, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Word for the World USA get its money?
Of $12.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 98.5% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Word for the World USA a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-1426685 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202641739349300504 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202531569349301473 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202402089349300140 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302339349300950 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202232099349300523 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202101739349300510 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202041899349301564 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-1426685: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.