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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: February 2026 Expires: February 2028

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

310 West Idaho Street
Boise, ID, 83702

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 Foundation of Idaho meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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

Year, State Incorporated:
1986, ID

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho (MAW Idaho) grants wishes to children ages 2.5 and older with life-threatening illnesses throughout the state of Idaho. The organization also holds events to help raise support and awareness for local Wish kids. During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, MAW Idaho granted 115 wishes, including 52 trips to Disney World and Disneyland, 18 shopping sprees, and 14 trips to Hawaii.

For the year ended August 31, 2025, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho's program expenses were:

Wish granting $2,136,402
Total Program Expenses $2,136,402

Chief Executive
Janie Best, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$158,391

Chair of the Board
Grant Porter

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Senior Loan Officer, Bluebird Home Loans

Board Size
15

Paid Staff Size
9

*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Radio, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)

Fundraising costs were 16% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $2,741,948, 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 Foundation of Idaho's audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2025.

Source of Funds
Contributions $1,266,789
In-kind contributions $682,675
Special events, net $573,104
Investment income, net $310,949
Grants $219,380
Other income $675
Total Income $3,053,572

Programs: 77% Fundraising: 16% Administrative: 8%

Total Income $3,053,572
Total expenses: $2,790,666
  Program expenses $2,136,402
  Fundraising expenses $439,484
  Administrative expenses $214,780
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $262,906
Beginning Net Assets $3,305,393
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $3,568,299
Total Liabilities $131,376
Total Assets $3,699,675

Note: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2025, MAW Idaho received in-kind gifts totaling $682,675 in the form of wish related travel, goods, and services ($601,035), office space ($75,312), and advertising and media ($6,328).

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 Great West - Pacific