BBB Wise Giving Report for
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island

BBB Wise Giving Report issued April 2012
BBB Wise Giving Report expires April 2014


Does not meet one or more standards
This charity does not meet one or more of the 20 standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Address: One Bulfinch Place, Second Floor
  Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-367-9474
Web Address: www.massri.wish.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1987, Massachusetts
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to grant wishes to 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 Massachusetts and Rhode Island (MAWFMRI) does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 6: Board Policy on Effectiveness - Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

MAWFMRI does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

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.

MAWFMRI does not meet this standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in its 2011 fiscal year.
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island (MAWFMRI) meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

MAWFMRI grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Through the Internet, brochures, posters and public service announcements, the organization informs the public about its programs, services and accomplishments. MAWFMRI is dedicated to fulfilling wishes that are child-focused, community-based and life-changing.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011, MAWFMRI's program expenses were:

  
Wish granting 3,416,754
Program-related support 1,205,759
Total Program Expenses: $4,622,513
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Charlotte Beattie, Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*:
 $164,159

Chair of the Board: Steve Barnes
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Managing Director of Bain Capital Partners, LLC

Board Size: 15

Paid Staff Size: 20

*September 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010 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, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing
Fund raising costs were 10% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $5,544,083, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
MAWFMRI incurred joint costs of $4,872 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $2,436 was allocated to program expenses, and $2,436 was allocated to fund raising 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 MAWFMRI's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 4,036,012
In-Kind contributions 1,354,953
Interest income and investment gains, net 607,844
Grants 153,118
Other income 11,689
Change in value of split interest agreements 145
Total Income $6,163,761


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 80%  Fund Raising: 10%  Administrative: 10% 

Total income   $6,163,761
  Program expenses $4,622,513
  Fund raising expenses 563,455
  Administrative expenses 599,811
 
Total expenses   $5,785,779
Income in Excess of Expenses   377,982
Beginning net assets   6,153,746
Ending net assets   6,531,728
Total liabilities   1,510,927
Total assets   $8,042,655

Note: According to MAWFMRI's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011, the organization received in-kind contributions in the amount of $1,354,953 including wish-related expenses ($1,176,847), professional services ($107,606), and advertising and media ($70,500).

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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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