Word of Life International Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
392063356
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025, Form 990-N 2008
Location
Bronx, NY, USA
Phone
7188615678
Rating
85
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Human Service Organizations

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$4,843,938
Expenses
$4,751,479
Assets
$1,278,201
Liabilities
$303,207

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

5 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • JOHN UDO-OKON (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • JOHN UDO-OKON (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $46,368 total reported compensation
  • FELICIA UDO-OKON (SECRETARY): $42,763 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The mission of Word of Life International Inc. is to empower and uplift underserved communities, particularly in the South Bronx neighborhoods of New York City, by providing comprehensive healthcare outreach services, social support programs, and advocacy efforts. Through a community -based approach , we aim to address health disparities, promote health equity, and foster stable and independent living.

What it reported doing in 2025

The Food pantry program at Word of Life International Inc. provides essential food assistance to individuals and families facing food insecurity in underserved communities. Through partnerships with local food banks, donors, and volunteers, we distribute nutritious food items, including fresh produce, pantry staples, and non-perishable goods, to those in need. Our goal is to alleviate hunger, promote food security, and support the overall well-being of community members by ensuring access to healthy and culturally appropriate food options. Additionally, we offer educational resources, nutrition education classes, and referrals to support individuals.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 93% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Revenue has declined or grown slowly and some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 88
  • Transparency & Controls: 90
  • Accountability: 91
  • Sustainability: 30
  • Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 98.1%; rating input score 98
  • Program expense ratio: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Limited
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Fail
    • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 1.9%; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.27; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 1.9%; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 7.8% per year; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -0.5% per year; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 1.7% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 98.1% of revenue deployed · 100% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 5 of 5 board members independent · 7 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $4.8M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $46K · 5 people listed
  • Consistency: 35 of 35 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 3 filed schedules
  • Filing history: 16 filing years from 2010 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 2 of 9 not reported.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 33/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 8/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 32/100.