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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: May 2025 Expires: May 2027

Make-A-Wish International

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(602) 230-9900
1702 East Highland Avenue, Suite 305
Phoenix, AZ, 85016
https://worldwish.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

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 International meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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

Year, State Incorporated:
1993, AZ

Make-A-Wish Foundation International (MAWI) provides financial and managerial assistance to its affiliated organizations globally to enhance opportunities to satisfy the wishes of children with critical illnesses. The organization grants wishes to children who are at least three years of age, but have not yet reached their 18th birthday. A child's treating physician determines if the child is medically eligible for a wish based on the medical criteria established by MAWI. Through its services, the organization seeks to empower children to fight their illness and energizes the family and community to support the child.

For the year ended August 31, 2024, Make-A-Wish International's program expenses were:

Program services $10,095,573
Total Program Expenses $10,095,573

Chief Executive
Luciano Manzo, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$246,750

Chair of the Board
Victor Nichols

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Director, Bank of Hawaii

Board Size
14

Paid Staff Size
38

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)

Fundraising costs were 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $11,180,080, 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 International's audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
In-kind contributions $8,262,806
Contributions and grants, net $2,917,274
Affiliate member dues $1,968,386
Investment income $231,976
Other revenue $-523
Total Income $13,379,919

Programs: 75% Fundraising: 12% Administrative: 13%

Total Income $13,379,919
Total expenses: $13,461,226
  Program expenses $10,095,573
  Fundraising expenses $1,669,897
  Administrative expenses $1,695,756
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-81,307
Beginning Net Assets $2,695,399
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $2,614,092
Total Liabilities $2,739,247
Total Assets $5,353,339

Note: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2024, MAWI received in-kind contributions totaling $8,262,806 in the form of wish granting ($6,921,918), advertising and media ($1,000,000), and professional fees ($340,888).

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