Make-a-Wish Foundation of America
Make-A-Wish Foundation of America is a public charity based in Phoenix, Arizona. Its national office guides wish-granting standards for U.S. chapters, raises funds nationally and provides chapters with infrastructure and support for programs and referrals. The foundation’s stated mission is to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Make-a-Wish Foundation of America at a glance
In short: Make-a-Wish Foundation of America gave $66.6M across 59 grants in 2025 (avg $1.1M), top state California. 3% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $66,649,593
- +22.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 59
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,129,654
- +22.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,071,614
- Total assets
- $125,508,364
- +7.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (2 of 59, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (12% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Make-a-Wish Foundation of America
- Contact
Mailing address: 1702 E Highland Avenue 400, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: (602) 279-9474
Website: https://wish.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Make-a-Wish Foundation of America funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mawf Metro New York and Western New York ($3.4M). Together the top 10 received $23.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
297 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 121 grants of 297 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s national office is based in Phoenix, and the organization says it serves every community in the United States. The 2025 grant listing shows grants across multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were California (12%), Florida (7%), Texas (7%), New York (7%) and Illinois (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 59 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Make-a-Wish Foundation of America open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 59 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $899K; repeat grants $1.1M. How we count
Medians: $899K first-time, $1.1M repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $49.8M (2020) to $66.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 59 grants totaling $66.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mawf Metro New York and Western New York New York, NY | General Support | $3,435,747 |
| Mawf Southern Florida Ft Lauderdale, FL | General Support | $2,791,136 |
| Mawf Illinois Chicago, IL | General Support | $2,759,344 |
| Mawf Ohio Kentucky and Indiana Columbus, OH | General Support | $2,266,007 |
| Mawf New Jersey Monroe Township, NJ | General Support | $2,213,162 |
| Mawf Central and Northern Florida Maitland, FL | General Support | $2,167,095 |
| Mawf Greater Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $2,081,140 |
| Mawf Greater Bay Area Oakland, CA | General Support | $1,986,205 |
| Mawf Colorado Greenwood Village, CO | General Support | $1,969,177 |
| Mawf North Texas Irving, TX | General Support | $1,960,984 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $125,508,364 | $136,767,956 | $137,816,534 | $66,649,593 | 59 | $1,984,160 |
| 2024 | $116,748,112 | $130,963,023 | $125,537,455 | $54,406,557 | 59 | $2,322,545 |
| 2023 | $107,210,146 | $135,276,222 | $124,505,937 | $50,661,158 | 59 | $485,159 |
| 2022 | $94,735,350 | $128,554,773 | $114,222,733 | $51,376,465 | 60 | $4,124,559 |
| 2021 | $86,732,088 | $113,692,927 | $113,291,029 | $54,644,884 | 60 | $1,472,347 |
| 2020 | $85,206,772 | $105,594,128 | $104,660,650 | $49,751,900 | 61 | $1,500,186 |
| 2019 | $75,083,885 | $104,697,150 | $100,347,253 | $52,304,974 | 61 | $3,132,949 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is: “Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.” Its filing describes activities that promote the development and handling of resources used to grant wishes and support affiliated 501(c)(3) chapters in administering their wish programs. The foundation says its national office helps chapters develop resources, administer programs and referrals, and navigate policies and guidelines.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 59 grants totaling $66,649,593. Grant amounts ranged from $68,198 to $3,435,747, with a median of $1,071,614. The largest listed grants were to affiliated Make-A-Wish organizations, all for general support:
The foundation’s filing narrative separately states that it distributed $66,649,595 in cash and in-kind resources to chapters to grant wishes during the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Leslie Motter as President & CEO. Other listed officers and directors are Luann Bott, CRPSO (former); Jared Perry, Chief Revenue Officer; Karen Smith, Chief Operating Officer; Amy Brindley, CCAO (former); Cathleen Paugh, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer; Janell Holas, Chief Brand Advancement Officer; Frances Hall, Chief Mission Officer; Terri Foulks, Chief People Officer; and Yvonne Moss, Chief Legal Officer/Secretary.
Make-a-Wish Foundation of America is led by Leslie Motter, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 21 of 45 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Leslie Motter
President & CEO
Chief Operating Officer → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$347K (2019) → $702K (2025)
Reba Dominski
Chair
Director → Chair - Elect, 2024
Chair - Elect → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Heinonen
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Constance Weaver
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Derrick Hall
Director
Director → Chair, 2024
Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dolf Berle
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doug Eckrote
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Wilkinson
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joaquin Hidalgo
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keri Gohman
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Rutherford
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Izen
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Messina
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Waldron
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shirley Davis
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josh D'amaro
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Wilson
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Braun
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stan Moss
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Orlando Ashford
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phil Colaco
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sundeep Reddy
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tierney Remick
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kate Gebo
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Whitney Eichinger
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frances Hall
Chief Mission Officer
Vice President of Mission Advancement → Chief Mission Officer, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$131K (2019) → $293K (2025)
Janell Holas
Chief Brand Advancement Officer
Vice President of Brand & Marketing → Chief Brand Advancement Officer, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$197K (2019) → $299K (2025)
Jonathan Smith
Sd, Digital & Brand Communications
Senior Director of Digital & Brand Communications → Senior Director, Digital & Brand Committee, 2022
Senior Director, Digital & Brand Committee → Sd, Digital & Brand Communications, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$140K (2019) → $189K (2025)
Luann Bott
Crpso
Vice President of Revenue Partnerships → Chief Revenue Prtn. & Svs Officer, 2023
Chief Revenue Prtn. & Svs Officer → Crpso, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$116K (2020) → $357K (2025)
Thomas Parker
CTO
Chief Human Resources Officer → Chief Transformation Officer, 2023
Chief Transformation Officer → CTO, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$244K (2019) → $196K (2025)
Amy Brindley
Ccao
Vice President of Chapter Advancement → Chief Chapter Advancement Officer, 2023
Chief Chapter Advancement Officer → Ccao, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$144K (2021) → $283K (2025)
Scott Frier
Sd & Strategy
Senior Director & Strategy → Sd & Strategy, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$145K (2020) → $180K (2025)
Yvonne Moss
Chief Legal Officer & Secretary
Associate General Counsel → Chief Legal Counsel, 2023
Chief Legal Counsel → Chief Legal Officer & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$150K (2021) → $242K (2025)
Cathleen Paugh
Chief Financial Officer & Treasuer
Chief Financial Officer → Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, 2024
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer → Chief Financial Officer & Treasuer, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$192K (2023) → $305K (2025)
Florenda Newton
Chief Corporate Alliance Officer
Senior Director & Corporate Alliances → Sd & Corporate Alliances, 2024
Sd & Corporate Alliances → Chief Corporate Alliance Officer, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$201K (2022) → $220K (2025)
Jared Perry
Chief Revenue Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$179K (2024) → $323K (2025)
Teresa Duran
CIO
Chief Information Officer → CIO, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$260K (2023) → $180K (2025)
Terri Foulks
Chief People Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$23K (2023) → $284K (2025)
Adam Faircloth
Cifo
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$213K (2024) → $218K (2025)
Brian Powell
Sd, Leadership & Planned Giving
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$224K (2024) → $224K (2025)
Jennifer Connery
Ccro
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$185K (2025)
Karen Smith
Chief Operating Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$314K (2025)
Keith Goodwin
Chief Information Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$158K (2025)
Melissa Sparks
Ccao
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$83K (2025)
Mohannad Aladwan
Sd, It Apps. & Business
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$185K (2025)
Former officers (48)
- Former: Carlos Cata (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Chris Beard (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Don Yaeger (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: George Barrios (2019–2024) — Chair
- Former: Sharlyn Heslam (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Karen Wells (2024) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Kristie Kirschner (2024) — Sd & Ch Revenue Svs
- Former: David Mulvihill (2019–2023) — Chief Legal Officer
- Former: Gj Hart (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Richard Davis (2019–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Sachin Jain (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Spencer Neumann (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Alice Rodd O'Rourke (2020–2023) — Chief Revenue Officer
- Former: Daniel Yohannes (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Robert Chapek (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Randall Sloan (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Adrienne Leavitt (2023) — Senior Director & Product Management
- Former: Christopher M. Decent (2023) — Senior Director & Chapter Revenue Services
- Former: Daryl M. Thomann (2023) — Senior Director & Chapter Performance
- Former: Bipin Jayaraj (2019–2022) — Chief Information Officer · Filing note: Thru 10/2021
- Former: David M. Clark (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Nancy Vitale (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Rob Lloyd (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Amanda Clayton (2020–2022) — Vice President of Integrated Fundraising
- Former: Jaime Rubin (2021–2022) — Director of Corporate Alliances
- Former: Mozelle Jackson (2021–2022) — Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer · Filing note: Thru 222
- Former: Brindy Roosa (2022) — Director & Leadership Gifts · Filing note: Thru 122
- Former: Holly Thomas (2019–2021) — Vice President of Corporate Alliances
- Former: Maureen Musselman (2019–2021) — CFO
- Former: Randy Sloan (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Stacy Owen (2019–2021) — Director of Corporate Alliances
- Former: Todd Shellenberger (2019–2021) — Vice President of Development
- Former: Xavier Williams (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Travis Gibson (2021) — Senior Director It Infrastructure Security
- Former: Bob Chapek (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: David Williams (2019–2020) — Former President & CEO
- Former: Karen Santoni (2019–2020) — Director of Principal Giving
- Former: Allyse Sullivan (2020) — Corporate Secretary
- Former: Kathy Forshey (2020) — Director of Internal Comms
- Former: Brenda Baty (2019) — Chair
- Former: Cortney Erin (2019) — Director
- Former: David Weiss (2019) — Chapter Philanthropy Advisor
- Former: Deborah Thompson (2019) — Vice President Chapter Initiatives
- Former: Kathleen Forshey (2019) — Vice President Corp Alliances
- Former: Patricia Clemency (2019) — Diversity & Development Officer
- Former: Paul Mehlhorn (2019) — Former CFO
- Former: Ryan Hegseth (2019) — Vice President of Strategic Planning
- Former: Trevor Vigfusson (2019) — CFO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $702K, to Leslie Motter (President & CEO). 21 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Make-a-Wish Foundation of America
How much does Make-a-Wish Foundation of America give each year?
Make-a-Wish Foundation of America gave $66.6M across 59 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $54.4M across 59 grants.
What is Make-a-Wish Foundation of America's typical grant size?
Make-a-Wish Foundation of America's median grant in 2025 was $1,071,614, and its average grant was $1,129,654, across 59 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Make-a-Wish Foundation of America that year got $899K on average.
Where does Make-a-Wish Foundation of America give grants?
Make-a-Wish Foundation of America's top state is California, with 12% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Florida (7%) and Texas (7%).
Does Make-a-Wish Foundation of America give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Make-a-Wish Foundation of America's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (59 of 59) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Make-a-Wish Foundation of America's largest grantees?
Make-a-Wish Foundation of America's largest 2025 grantees include Mawf Metro New York and Western New York ($3,435,747), Mawf Southern Florida ($2,791,136) and Mawf Illinois ($2,759,344), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Make-a-Wish Foundation of America?
Make-a-Wish Foundation of America reported $125.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $136.8M.
What does Make-a-Wish Foundation of America fund?
The foundation’s mission is: “Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.” Its filing describes activities that promote the development and handling of resources used to grant wishes and support affiliated 501(c)(3) chapters in administering their wish programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Make-a-Wish Foundation of America?
Make-a-Wish Foundation of America has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check wish.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Make-a-Wish Foundation of America's EIN?
Make-a-Wish Foundation of America's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0481941. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 23, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 10, 2025)
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Make-a-Wish Foundation of America's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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