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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: June 2024 Expires: June 2026

Make-A-Wish Wisconsin

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
6 14
11020 West Plank Court, Suite 200
Wauwatosa, WI, 53226

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Make-A-Wish Wisconsin does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

MAW WI does not meet this Standard because:

  • Its effectiveness assessment policy does not specify that this assessment will take place at least once every two years.

Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

MAW WI does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2024 budget information, it indicated that the budget did not identify:

  • Total projected program service expenses.
  • Total projected fund raising expenses.
  • Total projected administrative expenses.

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 15, 19

Make-A-Wish Wisconsin meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses."

Year, State Incorporated:
1989, WI

Make-A-Wish Wisconsin grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. The organization reports granting wishes for 327 children ages 2 to 18 during 2022.

For the year ended August 31, 2022, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin's program expenses were:

Wish Granting: $6,241,668

Total Program Expenses: $6,241,668

Chief Executive
Patti Gorsky Pollack, President and CEO

Compensation*
$254,651

Chair of the Board
Joseph Imhoff

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Partner, International Tax Services at PwC

Board Size
8

Paid Staff Size
27

*2021 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Telemarketing, Foundation grants

Fundraising costs were 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $10,342,120, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Make-A-Wish Wisconsin's audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2022.

Source of Funds
Contributions $4,940,465
Donated good and services $1,591,007
Grants $753,027
Internal Special Events, net $2,787,824
Investment loss, net $-2,199,457
PPP Loan forgiveness $269,797
Other income $1,650
Total Income $8,144,313

Programs: 71% Fundraising: 17% Administrative: 12%

Total Income $8,144,313
Total expenses: $8,768,224
  Program expenses $6,241,668
  Fundraising expenses $1,512,360
  Administrative expenses $1,014,196
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-623,911
Beginning Net Assets $19,645,961
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $19,022,050
Total Liabilities $835,166
Total Assets $19,857,216

Note: According to MAW WI’s audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2022, the organization received in-kind contributions of $764,180 including wish-related goods and services ($604,721), special events ($166,959), and advertisement ($7,500).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance