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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: April 2025 Expires: April 2027

Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
19
(800) 304-9474
811 1st Avenue, Suite 620
Seattle, WA, 98104
https://wish.org/akwa
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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 Alaska and Washington does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 19 (Cause Related Marketing)
Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).

MAW AKWA does not meet this Standard because, in the past year, the organization participated in promotions for the sale of consumer goods or services that indicate that the organization will benefit from these purchases. The promotions, however, did not specify:

  • The actual or anticipated amount of the purchase price that will benefit the organization.
  • The applicable maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution that could/will result from such sales (for example, up to a maximum of $200,000).

Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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

Year, State Incorporated:
1986, WA

Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington (MAW AKWA) reports that it grants wishes to children, ages 2.5 up to 18 years old at the time of referral, who are battling critical illnesses. After the organization confirms medical eligibility, wish volunteers visit the family to determine the child’s wish, and teams work to coordinate details. In 2023, MAW AKWA reported it granted 406 wishes for local kids and another 113 for children from around the world traveling to the region.

For the year ended August 31, 2023, Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington's program expenses were:

Program services: $7,676,074

Total Program Expenses: $7,676,074

Chief Executive
Trina Cottingham, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Vice President of Wishes

Compensation*
$129,485

Chair of the Board
Alex Ratner

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Partner, Moss Adams

Board Size
24

Paid Staff Size
38

*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Note 1: Trina Cottingham assumed the Interim Chief Executive Officer position in August 2024. Their compensation reflects what they received as Vice President of Wishes.
Note 2: Former President and Chief Executive Officer Melissa Arias was the highest-paid employee with total compensation of $248,765 for the year ended August 31, 2023.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Special events, Foundation grants, Print advertisements, Corporate solicitation

Fundraising costs were 11% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $9,801,322, 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 Alaska and Washington's audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2023.

Source of Funds
Contributions $3,605,619
In-kind contributions $3,942,913
Grants $83,184
Special events, net $2,169,606
Investment income, net $211,532
Other income $40,477
Total Income $10,053,331

Programs: 70% Fundraising: 10% Administrative: 20%

Total Income $10,053,331
Total expenses: $10,936,818
  Program expenses $7,676,074
  Fundraising expenses $1,082,673
  Administrative expenses $2,178,071
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-883,487
Beginning Net Assets $7,014,020
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $6,130,533
Total Liabilities $2,070,276
Total Assets $8,200,809

Note: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2023, MAW AKWA received in-kind contributions totaling $3,957,567 in the form of wish related travel, goods, and services ($3,611,419), advertising and media ($229,740), other ($101,754), and special events ($14,654).

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.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance