Word FM

What Word FM does

Word FM is a 501(c)(3) listener-supported, noncommercial educational Christian radio station operated by Four Rivers Community Broadcasting Corp. from Harleysville, Pennsylvania, broadcasting 24 hours per day on multiple FM frequencies (88.7, 90.3, 92.5 Lancaster, 103.5 Lehigh Valley) across central and eastern Pennsylvania, southwestern New Jersey, and northwestern Maryland. Programming consists of contemporary Christian music, family-oriented shows (Parenting Today's Teens, Keep The Faith), and original/syndicated podcasts (The Unfolding, Brant & Sherri Oddcast, The Next Right Thing, CIA), with streaming delivered through a website, iOS/Android mobile app, and voice-activated smart speaker skills on Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

The core technology stack is conventional broadcast radio: FM transmission towers plus IP-based streaming via a third-party streaming provider (rdoto), mobile app distribution on Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and voice platform integrations that surface a "play Word FM" intent. Supporting community tools include an online Prayer Wall (via GodListens), a Church Finder, a Local Ministry Directory, a community events calendar, a job openings board, and a free Bible distribution program; music programming is informed by listener surveys via Troy Research. There is no proprietary AI, developer API, or documented data flywheel.

The business model is a nonprofit donation-and-sponsorship model rather than a commercial advertising model: cash gifts (Sustaining Partner at $40/month or $480/year; Day Sponsorship at $75/month or $900/year; one-time and spring fundraiser pushes), business sponsorships managed by Dan Reed, and in-kind donations of vehicles, real estate, stocks, donor-advised funds, and legacy planned gifts via Everence. Distribution and audience development run through social channels (Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube), concerts and community events, a volunteer street team, music team surveys, and listener focus groups. The organization is staffed by 1–10 employees with named on-air hosts (Meridith Foster, Brant Hansen, Sherri, Keith Stevens, Kevin, Amy, Donna Cruz, Kim Fitz) and ministry/humanitarian partnerships with Blessings of Hope, CURE International, Convoy of Hope, Compassion International, and Healthy Niños Honduras.

Name

Word FM

Legal name

Four Rivers Community Broadcasting Corp.

Website

https://wordfm.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Word FM is a 501(c)(3) listener-supported Christian radio station broadcasting 24/7 across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland, offering contemporary Christian music, podcasts, and community ministry tools funded by donations and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Radio Broadcasting (MPAIAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE)

Keywords

• Christian radio broadcasting
• Noncommercial educational radio
• Contemporary christian music
• Listener-supported nonprofit
• Community radio ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Harleysville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Listener Donations: Word FM relies primarily on listener-supported donations. Listeners can become Sustaining Partners at $40/month or $480/year, provide day sponsorships at $75/month or $900/year, or make one-time donations online, by mail, or during fundraisers.
2. Business Sponsorships: Local businesses sponsor the station with mentions and recognition in exchange for support. Contact person Dan Reed manages business sponsorship relationships.
3. Vehicle Donations: Donors can give cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, RVs, and even airplanes. The station partners with Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS) to process donations. Donations qualify for tax deductions.
4. Real Estate Donations: Donors can give land, homes, or commercial properties with equity. The station accepts properties with mortgages or liens as long as there is sufficient equity. Properties are auctioned with proceeds going to Word FM.
5. Stock Donations: Donors can contribute stock directly, potentially providing tax advantages for the donor.
6. Legacy/Planned Gifts: The station offers legacy gift planning through partnership with Everence, allowing donors to include Word FM in their estate planning through various planned giving options.
7. Honorarium and Memorial Gifts: Donors can make gifts to honor individuals or commemorate loved ones, supporting entire days of programming, capital projects, or the Love Your Neighbor campaign.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Word FM is a listener-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit, noncommercial educational radio station that broadcasts 24-hour contemporary Christian music and family-oriented programming across multiple FM frequencies in central and eastern Pennsylvania, southwestern New Jersey, and northwestern Maryland. The station extends its reach through a mobile app, web streaming, smart speaker integration, podcast distribution, and supporting community services including prayer support, free Bible distribution, mission trips, and a church and ministry directory.

Product overview

Word FM operates as a listener-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian radio station (WBYO) delivering a unified platform of broadcast radio, digital streaming, and community services. The core offering centers on 24-hour contemporary Christian music programming supplemented by original podcasts (The Unfolding, Brant & Sherri Oddcast, The Next Right Thing, CIA - Contagious Influencers of America) and family-oriented shows (Keep The Faith, Parenting Today's Teens). The Word FM mobile app extends reach via Apple App Store and Google Play Store, while integrations with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa enable voice-activated streaming. Supporting services include vehicle and real estate donation programs, mission trip coordination, free Bible distribution, an online prayer wall, community events calendar, church finder, local ministry directory, and a job openings board. Revenue is generated through listener donations, day sponsorships, sustaining partner programs, and business sponsorships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Word FM Radio Broadcast

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Blessings of HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlessings of Hope is a nonprofit addressing global food crises through food distribution, processing equivalent of 2 million meals each month. Word FM partners to empower regional ministries, churches, disaster relief organizations, and food banks to serve their communities.
• CURE InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCURE International operates children's hospitals providing free surgical care for treatable disabilities in Africa and the Philippines, combining medical treatment with the message of Christ's love.
• Convoy of HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based humanitarian organization responding to disasters with emergency relief and feeding programs, empowering families through agriculture, women's empowerment, and job training initiatives.
• Compassion InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReleases children from poverty by connecting sponsors with children in need through local churches, providing food, education, medical care, and spiritual guidance.
• EverenceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFinancial services organization providing legacy gift planning guidance to Word FM donors through their gift planning guide program.
• CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational real estate auction platform and title company partner processing real estate donations for Word FM.
• Crown Financial MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bring encouraging, practical financial help resources to Word FM listeners through their platform.
• Charitable Auto ResourcesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProcesses vehicle donations for Word FM, enabling donors to give cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and other vehicles.
• Healthy Niños HondurasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical, dental, and construction brigades helping those suffering from malnutrition in Honduras. Word FM organizes annual mission trips with this partner.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• K-LOVE: K-LOVE is a national non-commercial contemporary Christian music radio network operated by Educational Media Foundation. It is directly comparable to Word FM in format (Christian music), non-commercial funding model, and multi-platform distribution, but operates at vastly greater scale across hundreds of US markets.
• Air1: Air1 is Educational Media Foundation's secondary Christian music radio network, sharing K-LOVE's non-commercial listener-supported model. It competes head-to-head with Word FM for Christian listeners in overlapping Mid-Atlantic markets via FM signals and streaming.
• Bott Radio Network: Bott Radio Network is a listener-supported Christian radio network offering Bible teaching and Christian music programming. It shares Word FM's non-commercial Christian radio format and donor-supported business model, with national reach via FM and streaming.
• WAY-FM Media Group: WAY-FM is a non-commercial contemporary Christian music radio network with stations across the US. It mirrors Word FM's format, ministry-focused brand positioning, and donor-funded revenue model, though at greater geographic scale.
• CSN International: Calvary Satellite Network (CSN International) is a non-commercial Christian radio network broadcasting Bible teaching and worship music. It shares Word FM's listener-supported model, Christian format, and FM plus online distribution approach.
• Relevant Radio: Relevant Radio is a non-commercial Catholic/Christian talk and teaching radio network with national US coverage. It overlaps with Word FM in non-commercial religious broadcasting and digital distribution, though focused on Catholic rather than evangelical content.
• Moody Radio: Moody Radio is the broadcast ministry of Moody Bible Institute, producing Christian teaching and music programming via FM stations, online streaming, and podcasts. It is comparable to Word FM in its non-commercial religious broadcasting focus and multi-platform distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Salem Communications: Salem Media Group operates a large portfolio of Christian and conservative talk radio stations, plus digital media properties. It is comparable to Word FM in religious/Christian broadcasting focus but operates commercially at a much larger scale with a broader portfolio.
• EWTN Global Catholic Network: EWTN operates a global Catholic radio network alongside its television and digital platforms. It overlaps with Word FM in non-commercial religious broadcasting and multi-platform distribution, though at substantially greater scale and with a different faith tradition.
• Educational Media Foundation: Educational Media Foundation is the parent non-profit of both K-LOVE and Air1, the largest non-commercial Christian radio networks in the US. As the dominant player in Word FM's exact category (listener-supported contemporary Christian music), it represents the principal competitive threat and benchmark for the space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mywordfm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheWordFMRadio
• Facebookfacebook.com/WordFM
• Instagraminstagram.com/mywordfm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/four-rivers-community-broadcasting-corporation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Word FM