BBB Wise Giving Report for
Make-A-Wish Foundation of America

BBB Wise Giving Report issued October 2008
BBB Wise Giving Report expires October 2010


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
Address: 3550 North Central Avenue, Suite 300
  Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: 800-722-9474
602-279-9474
Web Address: www.wish.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1983, Arizona
Affiliates: Make-A-Wish Foundation International, and 66 chapters
Stated Purpose: "to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America (Make-A-Wish) meets the 20Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

The Foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Through the Internet, brochures, posters and public service announcements, the Foundation informs the public about its programs, services and accomplishments. The Foundation charters local chapters to grant wishes; provides support for day-to-day chapter management decisions, chapter development and compliance with national headquarters’ policies and standards; and gives guidance to chapters in raising funds and securing in-kind donations to help grant the wishes of children in their communities. The Foundation also holds training seminars including national convention workshops and sessions for board members, staff and volunteers. Some ($2,946,429 or 8%) of the Foundation’s program activities are carried out in conjunction with fundraising appeals.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, the Foundation's program expenses were:

  
Chapter and affiliate support 29,490,917
Public information 3,944,090
Training and development 772,457
Board and committee support 462,537
Wish granting 232,674
Total Program Expenses: $34,902,675
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : David Williams, Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*:
 $336,362

Chair of the Board: Robert J. Bigler
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired Vice President, Estee Lauder

Board Size: 17

Paid Staff Size: 94

*September 1, 2006 - August 31, 2007 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, print advertisements, television, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.
Fund raising costs were 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $46,699,126, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
Make-A-Wish incurred joint costs of $8,192,516 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $2,946,429 was allocated to program expenses, $4,210,051 was allocated to fund raising expenses, and $1,036,036 was allocated to administrative expenses.
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Tax Status

               

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.
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Financial

               

The following information is based on the Foundation's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007.

Source of Funds  
Direct public support 21,612,335
Corporate gifts (net) 20,212,973
Chapter assessments 4,303,697
Major/planned gifts 2,587,616
Indirect public support 2,058,117
Interest income 474,156
Realized and unrealized gains on investments 396,120
Other income 334,490
In-kind gifts 226,085
Rebates and royalties 57,073
Grants 2,000
Product sales -469
Total Income $52,264,193


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 75%  Fund Raising: 16%  Administrative: 9% 

Total income   $52,264,193
  Program expenses $34,902,675
  Fund raising expenses 7,188,244
  Administrative expenses 4,172,606
 
Total expenses   $46,263,525
Income in Excess of Expenses   6,000,668
Beginning net assets   11,188,536
Ending net assets   17,189,204
Total liabilities   5,850,940
Total assets   $23,040,144


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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 BBB 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 Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

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