Word of Life Foundation Inc
Word of Life Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Schroon Lake, New York. Organized as a supporting organization, it raises and distributes funds to Word of Life Fellowship Inc and other tax-exempt organizations whose work furthers the Fellowship’s religious, charitable, and educational purposes.
Word of Life Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Word of Life Foundation Inc gave $28.9M across 52 grants in 2025 (avg $556K), mostly in New York. 2% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $28,934,505
- +112.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 52
- -11.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $556,433
- +140.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $19,500
- Total assets
- $12,212,018
- -52.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 2% first-time grantees (1 of 49, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Word of Life Foundation Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 600, Schroon Lake, NY 12870
Phone: (518) 494-6000
Website: https://wol.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Word of Life Foundation Inc
Life Change Camper Fund
Word of Life Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies (partial to full camp scholarships)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Life Change Student Fund
Word of Life Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Paul Bubar Legacy Scholarship
Word of Life Foundation Inc
Amount
Full tuition for remaining three years of study (covers second year through senior year after application of all other scholarships and grants)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Word of Life Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Word of Life Fellowship Inc ($27.3M). Together the top 10 received $28.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
295 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 229 grants of 295 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 5% to Ohio, 2% to Florida, and 1% each to West Virginia and Georgia. The listed grants also included recipients in Illinois and Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 52 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Word of Life Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
2%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 49 grantees (2%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $603K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $13.6M (2024) to $30.1M (2020). In 2025 it made 52 grants totaling $28.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Word of Life Fellowship Inc Schroon Lake, NY | Ministry | $27,324,004 |
| Finish Line Ministries International Columbus, OH | Ministry | $330,000 |
| Appalachian Bible College Mount Hope, WV | Ministry | $138,600 |
| Serve Syracuse Syracuse, NY | Ministry | $100,000 |
| Vision USA Church Planting West Alexandria, OH | Ministry | $62,000 |
| Abide International Miami Gardens, FL | Ministry | $60,000 |
| Local Church Evangelism Inc Hudson, FL | Ministry | $52,100 |
| Keep Believing Ministries Elmhurst, IL | Ministry | $50,000 |
| This Is My Story Inc Orlando, FL | Ministry | $47,900 |
| Pioneers Inc Orlando, FL | Ministry | $43,300 |
Ready to take the next step with Word of Life Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $12,212,018 | $15,950,144 | $29,387,710 | $28,934,505 | 52 | $871,211 |
| 2024 | $25,753,810 | $11,259,564 | $14,074,459 | $13,629,706 | 59 | $1,036,801 |
| 2023 | $28,006,828 | $24,510,604 | $17,291,989 | $17,306,381 | 67 | $446,868 |
| 2022 | $19,665,070 | $11,873,124 | $20,052,852 | $19,687,816 | 62 | $-49,314 |
| 2021 | $29,167,251 | $32,657,621 | $18,766,274 | $18,628,638 | 55 | $661,276 |
| 2020 | $15,049,518 | $24,081,640 | $29,949,940 | $30,133,202 | 52 | $166,930 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to support and further the religious, charitable, and educational tax-exempt purposes of Word of Life Fellowship Inc. Its 2024 filing describes it as distributing funds to the Fellowship and other tax-exempt organizations that further those purposes.
Its 2024 grantees included organizations with a range of stated missions. Word of Life Fellowship describes its work as evangelization and discipleship through camps, youth programs, Bible Institutes, missions, and other ministries. Malone University says its mission is to provide a biblically based education and develop students committed to serving the church, community, and world. Serve Syracuse says it supports organizations serving people in poverty in Syracuse through volunteers and funding. Appalachian Bible College describes its work as strengthening churches and preparing graduates for church-related service.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 59 grants totaling $13,629,706. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $11,616,893, with a median of $14,500. The largest grant, $11,616,893, went to Word of Life Fellowship Inc for “Ministry Outreach.” Other large grants included $465,000 to Finish Line Ministries International, $200,000 each to Serve Syracuse and Malone University, and $100,000 to Appalachian Bible College, all for “Ministry Outreach.” Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 52 grants totaling $28.9 million.
The Foundation’s filing says grant recommendations are reviewed against donor-advised-fund purpose statements. Grantees must provide an EIN and affirm that funds will be used for their exempt purposes, will not provide private benefit or satisfy a personal obligation, will not be used for political activity, and will not pay school tuition except through an established scholarship program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ronald D. Wyrtzen as President. Directors listed are Don H. Lough, Benjamin J. Nelson, Deb Nightingale (Treasurer), Charles D. Nightengale, Bob G. Brown (Secretary), Andrew Brown, Chad J. Lubke, Dane Swanson, and Walter R. Price.
Word of Life Foundation Inc is led by Wyrtzen Ronald D, Director & President since 2025 (on filings since 2023); none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wyrtzen Ronald D
Director & President
President → Director & President, 2025
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brown Bob G
Director-Secretary
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lough Don H
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nelson Benjamin J
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nightingale Deb
Director Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Swanson Dane
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Walter R Price
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nightingale Charles D
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lubke Chad J
Director
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hoselton Riley
Director
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Brown Andrew (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Chad J Lubke (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Peterson Bruce (2020–2022) — Director-President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Word of Life Foundation Inc
How much does Word of Life Foundation Inc give each year?
Word of Life Foundation Inc gave $28.9M across 52 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $13.6M across 59 grants.
What is Word of Life Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Word of Life Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $19,500, and its average grant was $556,433, across 52 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Word of Life Foundation Inc that year got $7K on average.
Where does Word of Life Foundation Inc give grants?
Word of Life Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Syracuse, NY (7 grants), Orlando, FL (4 grants), Columbus, OH (2 grants) and Charlotte, NC (2 grants).
Does Word of Life Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 52 grants with a stated purpose on Word of Life Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Ministry" (52 grants).
Who are Word of Life Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Word of Life Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Word of Life Fellowship Inc ($27,324,004), Finish Line Ministries International ($330,000) and Appalachian Bible College ($138,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Word of Life Foundation Inc?
Word of Life Foundation Inc reported $12.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $16.0M.
What does Word of Life Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to support and further the religious, charitable, and educational tax-exempt purposes of Word of Life Fellowship Inc. Its 2024 filing describes it as distributing funds to the Fellowship and other tax-exempt organizations that further those purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Word of Life Foundation Inc?
Word of Life Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check wol.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Word of Life Foundation Inc's EIN?
Word of Life Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2899583. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 16, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 6, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Word of Life Foundation Inc funds
Religion Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Word of Life Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Word of Life Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/word-of-life-foundation-inc-morg_ee259cd0ffef462ba7d409010e113ad3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_452899583_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Word of Life Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/word-of-life-foundation-inc-morg_ee259cd0ffef462ba7d409010e113ad3},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Word of Life Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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