WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES

EIN: 261448551 501(c)(3) Religion

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL

Total Revenue
$30,699,778
Total Expenses
$26,210,877
Total Assets
$56,587,672
Net Assets
$50,191,703
🔒

Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

Sign in with your work email to view Tuckman-Chang indicators

Sign In — Free (10 views/day)

Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2011
Legal Domicile
IL
Phone
8473805573
Tax Period
2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES, founded in 2011, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Religion sector that reported $30.7M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue grew 14% year-over-year, indicating healthy expansion. Expenses of $26.2M left a modest 15% surplus.

Mission

WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES IS A GLOBAL MEDIA APOSTOLATE THAT SUPPORTS THE WORK OF BISHOP ROBERT BARRON AND REACHES MILLONS OF INDIVIDUALS TO DRAW THEM BACK TO OR INTO THE CATHOLIC FAITH.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $11,003,078 Revenue: $9,763,935

WORD 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...

Read more

WORD 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 19,000 books and 4,200 Bibles to parishes, military bases, and campus ministries globally. Furthermore, our Liturgy of the Hours initiative reached a new peak of 30,000 monthly subscribers, coinciding with Word on Fire being officially selected by the USCCB as a publisher for the new Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition.

Program 2
Expenses: $2,810,457 Revenue: $4,605,685

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...

Read more

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, Bishop Barron and Institute leadership engaged members and supporters through in-person and virtual events, including lectures, conferences, and international speaking engagements that further advanced the Institute's global reach. The Institute began a new partnership with the Catholic University of America in the Evangelization and Culture Master's Program, an accredited Master of Arts degree that equips students with the intellectual, spiritual, and practical tools necessary to proclaim the Gospel in our secular age.

Program 3
Expenses: $561,597 Revenue: $152,175

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...

Read more

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 Rosaries" digital campaign, fostering a global community of prayer. Our digital platforms experienced continued growth, with Bishop Barron's YouTube channel, podcasts, and social media content reaching millions of viewers and listeners. Core content series such as Sunday Sermons and Bishop Barron Presents continued to foster deeper engagement with the Catholic faith and invite audiences into ongoing formation and conversion. We further expanded our media capabilities through enhanced studio production, enabling high-quality video content and in-depth conversations with leading voices in theology, culture, and public life. Additionally, our website and digital ecosystem saw significant increases in traffic and engagement, extending the reach of its evangelization efforts to a broader global audience.

🔒

Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

Sign in to view Trantor Score and financial metrics

Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Sign In — Free (10 views/day)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $15,079,275
Program Service Revenue $8,938,412
Investment Income $1,092,831
Other Revenue $5,589,260
TOTAL REVENUE $30,699,778

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $8,880,027
Fundraising Expenses $3,852,085
Program Expenses $14,375,132
Other Expenses $17,330,850
TOTAL EXPENSES $26,210,877

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $30,699,778 $26,852,104 +0.1%
Expenses $26,210,877 $19,160,697 +0.4%
Net Income $4,488,901 $7,691,407 -0.4%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
🔒

Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

Sign in to view all financial metrics

Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Sign In

Governance

Voting Members
11
Independent Members
8
Employees
83
Volunteers
20

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
3
$108,033
Total Directors
11
$390,473
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
5
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
Diane Archibald Secretary 5.0
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
John Lehocky Treasurer 5.0
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Stephen Grunow CEO & Executive Producer 40.0
Officer Director
$96,982 $11,051 $108,033
James Perry Director 5.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
John Barron Senior Development Director 40.0
Director
$182,828 $11,066 $193,894
John Croghan Director 5.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
John Powers Director 5.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
Joseph Guinan Director 5.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
Michael Benz Director 5.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
Robert Barron Director 40.0
Director
$86,774 $1,772 $88,546
Steven Straus Director 5.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
Brandon Vogt Senior Publishing Director 40.0
Highest
$174,689 $4,651 $179,340
Jonathan Bator Senior Director of Marketing & Sales 40.0
Highest
$166,390 $21,582 $187,972
Mark Bradford Fellow for Persons with Intellectual & Development Disabilities 40.0
Highest
$140,461 $22,165 $162,626
Matthew Petrusek Senior Director of the Word on Fire Institute 40.0
Highest
$205,203 $22,962 $228,165
Sean Davis Senior Director of Technology 40.0
Highest
$141,298 $22,120 $163,418
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2025 $30,699,778 $26,210,877 $56,587,672 $4,488,901
2024 $26,852,104 $19,160,697 $51,846,355 $7,691,407
2023 $21,638,201 $14,569,865 $38,688,249 $7,068,336
2022 $13,917,766 $10,112,354 $28,188,890 $3,805,412
2021 $17,209,550 $7,111,181 $26,397,119 $10,098,369
2020 $9,227,971 $3,630,471 $16,583,879 $5,597,500
2019 $4,598,701 $3,057,984 $10,672,847 $1,540,717
2018 $3,689,064 $2,698,761 $8,768,613 $990,303
Explore More Nonprofits
Top 100 Nonprofits in Illinois Largest U.S. Nonprofits Best Rated Nonprofits Most Efficient Nonprofits

Compare WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES with other nonprofits in Illinois and across the country.