Make-A-Wish Foundation
Creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope and joy.
At a glance
Rating and filings checked Oct 12, 2026. Sources: Charity Navigator, IRS Form 990 via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. How we check
Is Make-A-Wish Foundation a good charity?
Make-A-Wish Foundation holds Charity Navigator's highest rating: 4 out of 4 stars, with an overall score of 95%. Its 2023 Form 990 reports $135.3M in revenue, up 29% from $104.7M in 2019, and $124.5M in expenses. Rating checked Oct 12, 2026.
Finances
From Make-A-Wish Foundation's annual IRS Form 990 filings (filed as Make- A- Wish Foundation Of America).
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Officer & key staff pay | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $135.3M | $124.5M | $71.0M | $4.6M | 990 PDF |
| 2022 | $128.6M | $114.2M | $58.3M | $3.2M | 990 PDF |
| 2021 | $113.7M | $113.3M | $51.9M | $3.7M | 990 PDF |
| 2020 | $105.6M | $104.7M | $46.6M | $4.5M | |
| 2019 | $104.7M | $100.3M | $45.3M | $3.9M | 990 PDF |
A newer filing for 2024 is out but not yet summarized: read the 2024 Form 990 (PDF).
Officer & key staff pay is the 990's total for current officers, directors, trustees and key employees, not one salary.
What charities in children & youth do
Children and youth-focused nonprofits work across health, education, nutrition, protection, and family support. Strong organizations combine direct services (food programs, mentoring, after-school care) with policy advocacy on child welfare. Many operate through field offices in low-income countries, partnering with schools, clinics, and local family-support networks. Funding supports staff salaries, school construction, nutrition programs, child-protection services, and emergency response when crises affect children disproportionately.
How to judge charities in this area
Look for outcome data on children served: graduation rates, growth indicators, mental-health outcomes, longitudinal tracking. Be cautious of organizations that emphasize child photos and emotional storytelling without backing data. The best child-welfare nonprofits report on long-term outcomes (one, five, ten years out), not just immediate services delivered.
How to support beyond a one-time gift
- + Recurring monthly gifts are particularly valuable for child-focused charities — programs span school years and require predictability
- + Sponsor a school, classroom, or specific program rather than an individual child for cleaner accountability
- + Volunteer locally — mentoring, tutoring, and youth-sports coaching all need adults
- + Advocate for child-protection and family-support policies in your state
- + Donate professional skills (legal, medical, technical) through pro-bono platforms
Verify before you give
A few minutes of independent verification pays off — especially for larger gifts. These resources let you confirm the details on Make-A-Wish Foundation:
Frequently asked
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