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Make a Wish Foundation of Mississippi Chartered

EIN 64-0730362 · Ridgeland, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF MISSISSIPPI CHARTERED (THE FOUNDATION) IS A MISSISSIPPI NONPROFIT CORPORATION, ORGANIZED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
24.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
14
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$217,959, president and ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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. $2.3 million spent. THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF MISSISSIPPI CHARTERED CREATES LIFE CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES. CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 2 1/2 AND 18 WHO HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO HAVE A CRITICAL MEDICAL CONDITION QUALIFY FOR OUR WISH PROGRAM AND NO CHILD WHO MEETS THESE CRITERIA IS DENIED OUR SERVICES. WE STRIVE TO GRANT EACH CHILD'S ONE-TRUE WISH, WHETHER THAT IS TO VISIT A THEME PARK, SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS, MEET A DREAM CELEBRITY, OR COUNTLESS OTHER POSSIBILITIES. THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF MISSISSIPPI CHARTERED HAS GRANTED 117 WISHES IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. TOTAL WISHES GRANTED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR WERE $1,392,370. OF THIS AMOUNT, $672,553 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 EXPENSES. FOR FORM 990, HOWEVER, THE IRS REQUIRES THE $202,766 OF CONTRIBUTED SERVICES AND USE OF FACILITIES BE EXCLUDED FROM BOTH REVENUE AND EXPENSES.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.