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Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah Inc

EIN 74-2392822 · Murray, UT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 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
$6.2 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
19
Volunteers
282
Highest pay
$218,290, president/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: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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. $3.4 million spent. MAKE-A-WISH UTAH GRANTS ONE PERSONAL, HEARTFELT WISH TO MEDICALLY-ELIGIBLE CHILDREN BETWEEN AGES 2.5 AND 18 WHO HAVE A CRITICAL ILLNESS AS DETERMINED BY THEIR PHYSICIAN. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, 221 WISHES WERE GRANTED, AND 264 CHILDREN WERE IN THE WISH PIPELINE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. WISH GRANTING NOT ONLY IMPACTS WISH FAMILIES BUT ALSO VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. MAKE-A-WISH UTAH PROVIDES LOCAL PLANNING, LOGISTICS, AND SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN VISITING UTAH FROM ANOTHER STATE TO FULFILL A WISH. THE ORGANIZATION MANAGES AN EXTENSIVE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TO VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP GRANT WISHES AND SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION IN VARIOUS WAYS. A MEDICAL OUTREACH PROGRAM DEVELOPS REFERRALS OF MEDICALLY-ELIGIBLE CHILDREN FROM HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS. THE TOTAL PROGRAM EXPENSES RECOGNIZED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR WAS $3,775,323, OF WHICH $1,482,076 WAS CONTRIBUTED BY DONORS WHO PROVIDED IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS FOR WISH GRANTING. FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENT PURPOSES, THESE AMOUNTS ARE INCLUDED AS CONTRIBUTION REVENUE AND DIRECT WISH EXPENSES. HOWEVER, FOR FORM 990, THE IRS REQUIRES THE $559,564 OF CONTRIBUTED SERVICES AND USE OF FACILITIES 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 March 1986.

    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.