Who can receive a wish?
The mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Children must be referred to the Foundation and determined to be eligible for a wish between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18 by their physician. The child's treating physician makes the final determination of whether a child's illness qualifies him or her for a wish.

Does a child's condition have to be terminal to qualify for a wish?
No. Many of the children who qualify for a wish go on to lead healthy and happy lives.

Are there any restrictions on a wish?
Each Make-A-Wish® chapter follows specific policies and guidelines for granting a child's wish. The physician also plays a major role in determining whether the child's condition will permit a particular wish to be coordinated safely. Foundation staff work closely with the wish child's physician to determine the most appropriate time to grant the wish, keeping in mind the child's treatment protocol or other concerns.

Does the family have to pay for the wish?
No. All wish expenses are fully covered, including all travel and spending money when appropriate. The Make-A-Wish Foundation's objective is to create a memorable wish experience for both the child and family that is not clouded by financial concerns.

How much does a wish cost?
The cost of a wish varies depending on the type of wish. The average cost of a wish is $5,800.
Examples of Wish Costs:

Many other wishes occur each year and their costs are as varied as the children's request.

Does the wish family have to meet income qualifications before a child can receive a wish?
No. Family income is not a consideration in determining whether a child is eligible to receive a wish.

What are the most requested wishes?
Most wish requests fall into four major categories:

I wish to go
Some Make-A-Wish kids want to travel to their favorite theme park, while others want to visit an exotic beach, go on a cruise, see snow for the first time, or attend a major sporting event or concert.

I wish to be
Children search the depths of their imagination when they wish to be someone for a day – a fireman, a police officer, or a model, for instance.

I wish to meet
Many want to meet their favorite athlete, recording artist, television personality, movie star, politician, or public figure.

I wish to have
Children often wish for a special gift, like a computer, a tree house, a shopping spree, or something that they have coveted for a long time.

What is the wish process?
Make-A-Wish does not solicit the children it grants wishes to; thus community awareness is instrumental. Referrals may be received from a child, parent, doctor, or social worker and must be approved by a medical doctor. Following the referral, two well-trained Wish Granters (volunteers) are assigned to a wish. An interview visit or visits take place between the child and Wishgranters to determine the nature of the wish. Once a child determines his/her wish, the magic of the wish granting begins with all of the details of the wish taken care of by Wishgranters and support staff.

Do you grant wishes to adults?
No. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is incorporated with the state to only grant wishes to children who have been referred to the organization and determined to be eligible for a wish between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18 by their physician. However, there are other wish-granting organizations that grant wishes to adults.

What are your sources of funding?
The Make-A-Wish Foundation finances its work through individual contributions, corporate donations, foundation grants, planned gifts, and events we either host or sponsor. The Foundation relies on in-kind contributions to lessen the cost of goods and services. Wishes cost the children and their families nothing. Make-A-Wish bears the entire expense. Dollars raised by this chapter stay in our community to serve children with life-threatening illnesses. The Make-A-Wish Foundation does not solicit contributions over the phone or door-to-door.

Does the Make-A-Wish Foundation telemarket?
The Make-A-Wish Foundation does not, under any circumstances, engage telemarketers to raise money, despite sometimes being confused with other organizations that do. In fact, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has a nationwide policy against telephone and door-to-door solicitation. There is a number of other sound-alike organizations – some also with "wish" in their names. The Make-A-Wish Foundation has no affiliation with any other wish-granting organization. If you receive a call from someone asking for a donation, ask the caller to send you more information. Please report anyone using the Make-A-Wish name by calling 1-800-548-5058.

Can my financial contribution be tax deductible?
Yes. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. As such, financial contributions may be deductible for federal income tax purposes. Please consult with your financial advisor to determine the extent of tax deductibility. The Make-A-Wish Foundation's financial statements are audited by KPMG LLP. For an online edition of the Foundation's most recent annual report, with accompanying financial statements, click here.

More FAQs

To view a printable Frequently Asked Question page, please click here (pdf file - requires Adobe Acrobat to view)

For additional information, contact our Development Office at 800.548.5058 or e-mail info@stlouis.wish.org.

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