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Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin Inc

EIN 39-1543541 · Wauwatosa, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 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
$9.6 million
Spending
$10.4 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
21.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
30
Volunteers
447
Highest pay
$309,994, president & ceo (thru 4/30/25)

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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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. $7.8 million spent. IT IS THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLE OF OUR VISION TO GRANT THE WISH OF EVERY ELIGIBLE CHILD BETWEEN THE AGES OF 2 1/2 AND 18. FOR WISH KIDS, JUST THE ACT OF MAKING THEIR WISH COME TRUE CAN GIVE THEM THE COURAGE TO COMPLY WITH THEIR MEDICAL TREATMENTS. WITH OUR WISH-MAKING PROCESS, WE STRIVE TO BRING A SENSE OF EXCITEMENT AND HOPE DURING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIMES AND DELIVER A JOYFUL, LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE, WHETHER THE WISH IS A PRINCESS PARTY, SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS, OR ANY OF THE COUNTLESS OTHER POSSIBILITIES DREAMED UP BY THE MAGICAL MIND OF A CHILD. THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF WISCONSIN GRANTED 434 LIFE-CHANGING WISHES IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2025. THE TOTAL COST OF WISHES GRANTED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR WAS $8,683,174 OF THIS AMOUNT, $865,702 WAS CONTRIBUTED BY VARIOUS VENDORS WHO PROVIDED IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS SUCH AS TRAVEL AND TRAVEL SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION, LODGING, AND OTHER SERVICES AND 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 FORM 990, HOWEVER, THE IRS REQUIRES THIS AMOUNT TO 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 January 1989.

    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.