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Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York and Western New York

EIN 11-2645641 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TOGETHER, WE CREATE LIFE CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES.

Income
$19.3 million
Spending
$17.3 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
9.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
73
Volunteers
1,163
Highest pay
$405,630, ceo (thru 3/31/25)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $11.2 million spent. THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF METRO NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW YORK CREATES LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES. CHILDREN MUST HAVE A REFERRAL FROM AN APPROVED REFERRAL SOURCE, HAVE REACHED THE CHRONOLOGICAL AGE OF 2 YEARS AND BE UNDER THE AGE OF 18, MUST HAVE A CRITICAL ILLNESS AND NEVER HAVE BEEN GRANTED A WISH BEFORE TO QUALIFY FOR OUR WISH PROGRAM. NO CHILD WHO MEETS THESE CRITERIA IS DENIED OUR SERVICES. THE FOUNDATION GRANTED 656 WISHES TO CHILDREN DURING THE FISCAL YEAR END AUGUST 31, 2025. TOTAL COST OF WISHES GRANTED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR WAS $8,252,738. OF THIS AMOUNT, $ 3,489,400 WAS CONTRIBUTED BY VARIOUS VENDORS WHO PROVIDED IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS SUCH AS TRAVEL AND TRAVEL SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION, LODGING AND OTHER SERVICES, AND THE USE OF FACILITIES TO COMPLETE A CHILD'S WISH. FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENT PURPOSES, THESE AMOUNTS ARE INCLUDED AS CONTRIBUTION REVENUE AND GRANTED WISH EXPENSE FOR THE FORM 990, HOWEVER, THE IRS REQUIRES THE $1,709,577 OF CONTRIBUTED SERVICES AND USE OF FACILITIES BE EXCLUDED FROM BOTH REVENUE AND EXPENSE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1983.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.