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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2024 Expires: August 2026

Make-A-Wish® Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(713) 942-9474
12625 Southwest Fwy
Stafford, TX, 77477-3803
https://wish.org/texgulf
📄 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® Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses

Year, State Incorporated:
1984, TX

Also Known As:
Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana

Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Cost and Louisiana wants to bring every eligible child’s wish to life because a wish is an integral part of a child’s treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. This improves their quality of life and produces better health outcomes. A wish transforms the lives of children, their families, volunteers, supporters, medical professionals, and entire communities.

Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana is one of 58 chapters throughout the United States and its territories. Since this chapter’s inception in 1984, they have granted over 11,300 wishes, and, during our fiscal year 2024, they granted 601 wishes. Make-A-Wish is the No. 1 Most Trusted Nonprofit Operating Locally Across 50 states, per Morning Consult, serving children in every community in the United States and in 50 countries worldwide. 

Together, generous donors, supporters, staff, and 20,000 volunteers across the U.S. grant a wish every 33 minutes, on average, somewhere in the country. Volunteer committees assist in all phases of our mission, from child-focused wish teams to solicitation of goods and services, to meet the needs of specific wishes.

Wish children are referred to Make-A-Wish by immediate family members, medical professionals, or the children themselves. Once Make-A-Wish has been contacted, a medical release form is sent to the child’s primary physician. Upon medical approval, a volunteer team sets up a time to visit with the child to learn the one true wish in that child’s heart. Then the wish team makes the necessary arrangements for the wish to come true (average wish cost is $16,000). The goal is to provide a joyful and meaningful experience that gives the immediate family time together away from medical treatments and medical bills. 

Children from 47 counties in the Texas Gulf Coast area and all 64 parishes of Louisiana benefit from the efforts of this Make-A-Wish chapter.

For the year ended August 31, 2023, Make-A-Wish® Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana's program expenses were:

Wish Granting $7,543,740
Total Program Expenses $7,543,740

Chief Executive
Shelly Millwee, President & CEO

Chair of the Board
Mr. Jason Jennaro

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation

Board Size
Not disclosed

Paid Staff Size
28

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Door-to-door solicitation, Grant proposals

% of Related Contributions on Fundraising: 12.31%

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® Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana's audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2023.

Source of Funds
Other Income $8,979
Other gains $21,862
Grants $193,500
Investment Income, Net $851,655
Contributions, Donated Goods and Services $3,226,711
Contributions, Cash $3,976,245
Total Income $8,278,952

Programs: 79% Fundraising: 10% Administrative: 11%

Total Income $8,278,952
Total expenses: $9,526,331
  Program expenses $7,543,740
  Fundraising expenses $910,699
  Administrative expenses $1,093,754
  Other expenses $-21,862
Income in Excess of Expenses $-1,247,379
Beginning Net Assets $18,012,976
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $16,743,735
Total Liabilities $768,760
Total Assets $17,512,495

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 of Greater Houston and South Texas