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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2025 Expires: August 2027

Make-A-Wish Iowa

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
16
(515) 334-2636
3009 100th Street
Urbandale, IA, 50322
https://wish.org/iowa
📄 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 Iowa does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

MAW Iowa does not meet this Standard because the 2023 annual report did not include:

  • Financial summary for the year ended August 31, 2024. 

Make-A-Wish Iowa meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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

Year, State Incorporated:
1987, IA

Make-A-Wish Iowa (MAW Iowa) grants wishes to children with critical illnesses in Iowa. The organization reports that it works closely with each child’s medical team to ensure the child’s wish is safe and the timeline is reasonable for each individual case. MAW Iowa partners with volunteers to meet with each child and grant their wish and works closely with caregivers and parents ahead of a wish. The organization reports that the wish experience contributes substantially to physical, mental and emotional health. During the year ended August 31, 2023, MAW Iowa reports granting 198 wishes.

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

Wish Granting $3,899,814
Total Program Expenses $3,899,814

Chief Executive
Sara Kurovski, President and CEO

Compensation*
$147,254

Chair of the Board
Lisa Riensche

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Owner and Manager, Blue Diamond Farming Company

Board Size
18

Paid Staff Size
16

*2022 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, Special events, Print advertisements

Fundraising costs were 10% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $11,753,264, 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 Iowa's audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Contributions $4,735,724
In-kind contributions $1,429,110
Special events, net $624,227
Special events, in-kind contributions $282,554
Investment income, net $215,286
Grants $86,280
Other income $601
Total Income $7,373,782

Programs: 70% Fundraising: 21% Administrative: 9%

Total Income $7,373,782
Total expenses: $5,601,609
  Program expenses $3,899,814
  Fundraising expenses $1,193,011
  Administrative expenses $508,784
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $1,772,173
Beginning Net Assets $3,978,462
Other Changes In Net Assets $11,956
Ending Net Assets $5,762,591
Total Liabilities $373,301
Total Assets $6,135,892

Note 1: According to the organization’s audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2024, the organization received in-kind contributions of $1,711,664, including wish related travel, goods, and services ($1,212,674), special events ($282,554), professional services ($203,830), and advertisement and media ($12,606).

Note 2: In the financial summary above “other changes in net assets” refers to change in value of beneficial interest of assets held by others ($9,794) and change in value of split-interest agreements ($2,162).

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