Wish for Our Heroes Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Through the granting of wishes, WISH for OUR HEROES strives to assist military families struggling with burdens caused by deployment, family separation, and the daily strains of military life. By providing transparency for donors and a unique focus on assisting military members not covered by existing government or non-profit channels, WISH for OUR HEROES assists families by providing basic needs. Examples include food, shelter, transportation, child needs, and medical expenses. Walk Among Heroes, a division of Wish for Our Heroes, provides trips for World War II Veterans, Wounded Veterans, and Veterans of other wars to return to battlefields around the world where they fought. The trips provide mental healing for the Veterans, then through their experiences, Walk Among Heroes shares the Veterans' stories and experiences to provide renewed emphasis on history.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $2.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 11.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 350
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 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 (3)
- $2.1 million spent. WISH for OUR HEROES granted 5,630 wishes for the period ending November 30, 2025. The 5,630 wishes resulted in providing assistance to more than 14,000 individuals associated with the U.S. Military. The grants ranged from basic needs such as food, housing, transportation, child needs, household goods, and basic home expenses, to recreational wishes such as sporting events. Revenue received that is directly programmatic is in kind revenue, which totaled $950,865. Grants were disbursed in 34 of the 50 states.
- $125,000 spent. Through Wish for Our Heroes' Walk Among Heroes Division, 12 World War II Veterans and their families were returned to Normandy, Bastogne, and other battlefields around the world where they fought. Also, 4 high student ambassadors and their caretakers were provided scholarships, including all travel expenses, to visit Normandy alongside the World War II Veterans
- $172,000 spent. Wish for Our Heroes Florida Division, headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Burnt Store Marina, FL, granted 163 wishes vcalued at $172,000 to assist Florida military families struggling with basic needs such as food, shelter, transportation, child needs, medical expenses, and other basic necessities.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending November 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 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.