Nonprofit · EIN 26-1448551
WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES
Tax-exempt · ELK GROVE VLG, IL 60007
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $30,699,778 | $26,210,877 | $4,488,901 | $56,587,672 | $6,395,969 | $50,191,703 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $26,852,104 | $19,160,697 | $7,691,407 | $51,846,355 | $5,870,567 | $45,975,788 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $21,638,201 | $14,569,865 | $7,068,336 | $38,688,249 | $2,907,233 | $35,781,016 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $15,079,275
- Program service revenue
- $8,938,412
- Investment income
- $1,092,831
- Royalties
- $22,600
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $5,536,701
- Other revenue
- $5,589,260
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $183,755
- Other salaries and wages
- $6,655,030
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $8,880,027
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $133,634
- Accounting fees
- $179,309
- Occupancy
- $1,269,352
- Travel
- $642,861
- Depreciation
- $392,792
- Program services (functional)
- $14,375,132
- Management and general (functional)
- $7,983,660
- Fundraising (functional)
- $3,852,085
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $51,846,355
- Total assets, end of year
- $56,587,672
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $6,395,969
- Net assets, end of year
- $50,191,703
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $3,811,731
- Publicly traded securities
- $32,414,934
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $48,186,860
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $2,004,843
- Gross unrelated business income
- $5,877
- Gross receipts
- $42,045,383
- Employees
- 83
- Volunteers
- 20
- Year formed
- 2011
- State of legal domicile
- IL
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Petrusek | Senior Director of the Word on Fire Institute Highest-paid employee | 40 | $205,203 | $22,962 |
| John Barron | Senior Development Director Trustee or director | 40 | $182,828 | $11,066 |
| Jonathan Bator | Senior Director of Marketing & Sales Highest-paid employee | 40 | $166,390 | $21,582 |
| Brandon Vogt | Senior Publishing Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $174,689 | $4,651 |
| Sean Davis | Senior Director of Technology Highest-paid employee | 40 | $141,298 | $22,120 |
| Mark Bradford | Fellow for Persons with Intellectual & Development Disabilities Highest-paid employee | 40 | $140,461 | $22,165 |
| Stephen Grunow | CEO & Executive Producer Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $96,982 | $11,051 |
| Robert Barron | Director Trustee or director | 40 | $86,774 | $1,772 |
| Diane Archibald | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| John Lehocky | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| James Perry | Director Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| John Croghan | Director Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| John Powers | Director Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Joseph Guinan | Director Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Michael Benz | Director Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
1 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Straus | Director Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MATTHEW PETRUSEK | SENIOR DIRECTOR OF THE WORD FIRE INSTITUTE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $218,685 | $16,056 |
| JONATHAN BATOR | SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & SALES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $180,938 | $14,333 |
| JOHN BARRON | SENIOR DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 40 | $176,089 | $8,402 |
| BRANDON VOGT | SENIOR PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $165,938 | $2,870 |
| SEAN DAVIS | SENIOR DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $138,348 | $18,089 |
| MARK BRADFORD | FELLOW FOR PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $139,854 | $16,139 |
| STEPHEN GRUNOW | CEO & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Trustee or director | 40 | $97,886 | $7,257 |
| ROBERT BARRON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 40 | $59,178 | $0 |
| JOE GUINAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES PERRY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN POWERS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN CROGHAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE BENZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVE STRAUS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LeHOCKY | TREASURER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| DIANE ARCHIBALD | SECRETARY Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 19 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATTHEW PETRUSEK | EMPLOYEE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $245,965 |
| JONATHAN BATOR | EMPLOYEE Key employee | 40 | $173,000 |
| JOHN BARRON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 40 | $168,614 |
| SEAN LEE | EMPLOYEE Key employee | 40 | $166,388 |
| BRANDON VOGT | EMPLOYEE Key employee | 40 | $156,942 |
| MICHAEL COUCHE | EMPLOYEE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $141,863 |
| JARED ZIMMERER | EMPLOYEE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $140,132 |
| DOUGLAS CUMMINS | EMPLOYEE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $138,875 |
| SEAN DAVIS | EMPLOYEE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $121,934 |
| STEPHEN GRUNOW | PRESIDENT Trustee or director | 40 | $63,479 |
| ROBERT BARRON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 40 | $41,573 |
| JOE GUINAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| JAMES PERRY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| JOHN POWERS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| JOHN CROGHAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| MIKE BENZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| STEVE STRAUS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| JOHN LeHOCKY | TREASURER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| DIANE ARCHIBALD | SECRETARY Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 25 NORTHWEST POINT BLVD STE 1025, ELK GROVE VLG, IL 60007-1003
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- FR STEVE GRUNOW, 25 NW POINT BLVD 1025, ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL 60007
- Signed the 990
- FR STEVE GRUNOW, CEO
- Phone
- (847) 380-5573
- Website
- WWW.WORDONFIRE.ORG
- Return prepared by
- Plante & Moran PLLC
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 accomplishments
- 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.Expenses $11,003,078 · revenue $9,763,935
- 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.Expenses $2,810,457 · revenue $4,605,685
- 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.Expenses $561,597 · revenue $152,175
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 26-1448551
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2009
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Religion-related (X81)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $56,587,672
- Income (IRS master file)
- $42,045,383
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $30,699,778 | $26,210,877 | $56,587,672 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $26,852,104 | $19,160,697 | $51,846,355 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $21,638,201 | $14,569,865 | $38,688,249 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $13,917,766 | $10,112,354 | $28,188,890 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 26-1448551).
Questions about WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES
- What is the EIN of WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES is 26-1448551.
- Is WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2009.
- Are donations to WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names FR STEVE GRUNOW.
- Who are the officers and directors of WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 16 people; 8 received compensation from the organization, the highest $205,203 (Matthew Petrusek, Senior Director of the Word on Fire Institute).
- How much revenue does WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $30,699,778, expenses of $26,210,877 and total assets of $56,587,672 at year end.
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