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MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 860481941 · Form 990 · FY2021 · Very Large (>$50M) · www.wish.org
revenue
$128.6M
expenses
$114.2M
net assets
$58.3M
employees
277
volunteers
47
program ratio
66%
mission · from form 990

TOGETHER, WE CREATE LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES.

profile · synthesized from sources

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America grants wishes to children aged 2.5 to 18 years old who are battling critical illnesses. The organization operates across the United States and its territories, with an international arm extending to nearly 50 countries on six continents. Wishes aim to provide hope, strength, and joy to children and their families, improving their quality of life.

named programs · 1 · from sources

what they call their work

Wish Granting
A program that fulfills the wishes of children with critical illnesses, involving a referral process, eligibility determination by medical professionals, identification of the child's most desired wish, and coordination by volunteers to create a memorable experience for the child and their family.
activities · 4 groups

what they do

  • Wish Fulfillment for Critically Ill Individuals 9 activities
    • Grant wishes to children with critical illnesses
      Grants life-changing wish experiences to children facing critical illnesses, serving as transformative events that provide hope and joy. The organization grants a wish every 33 minutes in the U.S. and its territories and has fulfilled over 650,000 wishes worldwide since 1980.
    • Grant wishes to children with critical illnesses
      Grants life-changing wish experiences to children facing critical illnesses, serving as transformative events that provide hope and emotional strength. The organization grants a wish every 33 minutes in the U.S. and its territories, with over 650,000 wishes fulfilled worldwide since 1980.
    • Grant wishes to children with critical illnesses
      Grants life-changing wish experiences to children facing critical illnesses, serving as transformative events that provide hope and emotional strength. The organization grants a wish every 33 minutes in the U.S. and its territories, with over 650,000 wishes fulfilled worldwide since 1980.
    • Grant wishes to children with critical illnesses
      Grants life-changing wish experiences to children facing critical illnesses, serving as transformative events that improve emotional and physical well-being. The organization grants a wish every 33 minutes in the U.S. and its territories, with over 650,000 wishes fulfilled worldwide since 1980.
    • Support local and international chapter operations
      Provides operational assistance to local Make-A-Wish chapters in the U.S. and supports global expansion through Make-A-Wish International, established in 1993 to serve countries outside the United States.
    • Support local and international chapter operations
      Provides operational assistance to local Make-A-Wish chapters across the U.S. and supports international expansion through Make-A-Wish International, established in 1993 to serve children outside the United States.
    • Support local chapters in wish granting
      Provides operational assistance and support to local Make-A-Wish chapters to enable the effective granting of wishes, ensuring consistent delivery of services across the U.S. and internationally.
    • Support local chapters in wish granting
      Provides operational assistance and support to local Make-A-Wish chapters to enable the granting of wishes across the U.S. and internationally, ensuring consistent delivery of wish experiences.
    • Support local chapters in wish granting
      Provides operational assistance and support to local Make-A-Wish chapters to enable the granting of wishes, ensuring consistent and effective delivery of services across the U.S. and internationally.
  • Peer-to-Peer Community Fundraising Campaigns 6 activities
    • Organize and manage fundraising events
      Hosts and supports a variety of fundraising events including Walk for Wishes, the Trailblaze Challenge, and Stream For The Wishes, which engage communities, hikers, and gamers in raising funds to support wish granting.
    • Organize and support fundraising events
      Hosts and supports a variety of fundraising events such as Walk for Wishes, the Trailblaze Challenge, and Stream For The Wishes, which engage communities, hikers, and gamers in raising funds to support wish granting. Also supports school and youth-led fundraising initiatives.
    • Organize and support fundraising events
      Hosts and supports a variety of fundraising events including Walk for Wishes, the Trailblaze Challenge, and Stream For The Wishes, which engage communities, outdoor enthusiasts, and online gamers in raising funds to support wish granting. Also supports school and youth-led fundraising initiatives.
    • Organize and support fundraising events
      Hosts and supports a range of fundraising events including Walk for Wishes, the Trailblaze Challenge, Stream For The Wishes, and school/youth-led initiatives to engage communities and raise funds for wish granting.
    • Organize fundraising events and campaigns
      Hosts and supports a range of fundraising initiatives including Walk for Wishes, the Trailblaze Challenge, Stream For The Wishes, and school/youth-led campaigns to raise funds for wish granting.
    • Support youth and school-based fundraising initiatives
      Supports student-led fundraising and service projects in schools and youth organizations to engage young people in raising funds and awareness for children’s wishes.
  • Wish Impact Research and Evaluation 5 activities
    • Conduct research on the impact of wish fulfillment
      Commissioned the Wish Impact Study in 2011 to assess the physical and emotional benefits of wish granting for children with critical illnesses, contributing to understanding of the program’s outcomes.
    • Conduct research on the impact of wish fulfillment
      Commissioned the Wish Impact Study in 2011 to assess the physical and emotional effects of wish granting on children with critical illnesses and their families.
    • Conduct research on the impact of wish fulfillment
      Commissioned the Wish Impact Study in 2011 to assess the physical and emotional benefits of wish experiences for children with critical illnesses.
    • Conduct research on the impact of wish granting
      Commissioned the Wish Impact Study in 2011 to assess the physical and emotional benefits of wish fulfillment for children with critical illnesses, contributing to evidence-based understanding of the program’s outcomes.
    • Conduct research on the impact of wishes
      Commissioned the Wish Impact Study in 2011 to assess the physical and emotional benefits of wish fulfillment for children with critical illnesses, contributing to evidence-based understanding of the program’s outcomes.
  • Uncategorized 5 activities
    • Engage volunteers in wish-granting and operations
      Engages nearly 40,000 volunteers annually in a range of roles including wish granting, event planning, administrative support, interpretation, public speaking, and specialized skills such as design and construction to support the organization’s mission.
    • Engage volunteers in wish-granting and operations
      Engages nearly 40,000 volunteers annually in a range of roles including wish granting, event planning, administrative support, interpretation, public speaking, and skilled services such as graphic design and carpentry to support the organization’s mission.
    • Engage volunteers in wish-related activities
      Activates nearly 40,000 volunteers annually in various roles including wish granting, translation, administrative support, public speaking, event coordination, and skilled services such as design and construction to support the wish fulfillment process.
    • Engage volunteers in wish-related activities
      Engages nearly 40,000 volunteers annually in a range of roles including wish granting, translation, administrative support, public speaking, event planning, and skill-based services such as graphic design and carpentry to support the organization’s mission.
    • Engage volunteers in wish-related activities
      Activates nearly 40,000 volunteers annually in various roles including wish granting, translation, administrative support, public speaking, event coordination, and skilled services such as graphic design and carpentry to support the wish fulfillment process.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$128.55M
Contributions & grants$100.49M78%
Program service revenue$20.61M16%
Investment income$4.12M3%
Other revenue$3.33M
expenses
Total expenses$114.22M
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising21%
Salaries & benefits$25.61M
Grants paid out$54.02M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$94.74M
Cash$12.80M
Investments$30.13M
Liabilities$36.43M
Net assets$58.31M
Liquid reserves4.5 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +13.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 17
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
RICHARD DAVIS PRESIDENT & CEO 45 $622K
ALICE RODD O'ROURKE SR VP AND CRO 45 $397K
LESLIE MOTTER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 45 $377K
DAVID MULVIHILL VP & GENERAL COUNSEL 45 $286K
THOMAS PARKER CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER 45 $270K
LUANN BOTT VP OF REVENUE PARTNERSHIPS 45 $254K
JANELL HOLAS VP OF BRAND & MARKETING 45 $248K
MOZELLE JACKSON THRU 222 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & TREASURER 45 $218K
AMANDA CLAYTON VP OF INTEGRATED FUNDRAISING 45 $217K
AMY BRINDLEY VP OF CHAPTER ADVANCEMENT 45 $212K
FRANCES HALL VP OF MISSION ADVANCEMENT 45 $210K
BIPIN JAYARAJ THRU 1021 CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER 45 $210K
FLORENDA NEWTON SR DIRECTOR, CORPORATE ALLIANCES 45 $201K
JONATHAN SMITH SR DIRECTOR, DIGITAL & BRAND COMM. 45 $161K
BRINDY ROOSA THRU 122 DIRECTOR, LEADERSHIP GIFTS 45 $156K
JAIME RUBIN DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE ALLIANCES 45 $153K
YVONNE MOSS ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL 45 $152K
board members · 7
  • AMY WALDRON — DIRECTOR
  • CARLOS CATA — DIRECTOR
  • CHERYL HEINONEN — DIRECTOR
  • CHRIS BEARD — DIRECTOR
  • CONSTANCE WEAVER — DIRECTOR
  • DANIEL YOHANNES — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID M CLARK — DIRECTOR
relationships · 10

who they work with

  • CliftonLarsonAllen LLP Government — Conducted audit of Make-A-Wish's financial statements for fiscal year 2022.
  • Doctors Partner — Medical professionals who refer patients to Make-A-Wish and integrate the wish experience into patient care.
  • Grady Health System Partner — Integrated food prescriptions into primary care
  • Make-A-Wish International Network — Coordinates with Make-A-Wish International for global operations
  • Make-A-Wish International Partner — Formed in 1993 to serve countries outside the U.S. and acts as the hub for wish-granting activities in nearly 50 countries and territories.
  • Medical professionals Partner — Refers patients to Make-A-Wish and collaborates in the wish-granting process to support child well-being.
  • National corporate partners Partner — Corporate partners help grant wishes across the U.S. through innovative and customized partnership programs.
  • Nurses Partner — Medical professionals who refer patients to Make-A-Wish and support the wish experience as part of patient care.
  • Stream For The Wishes Partner — Program enabling gamers to host charity livestreams to fundraise for Make-A-Wish.
  • local Make-A-Wish chapters Network — National entity supporting local chapters in wish granting and operations