Make-A-Wish America raised about $131 million in FY2024 revenue, with roughly $101 million from contributions and grants.
People ask this a lot: “How much does Make-A-Wish raise each year?” The short answer depends on which part of the organization you’re looking at and whether you count donated goods and services. Below, you’ll see the latest audited and IRS-filed numbers for Make-A-Wish America (the U.S. national office that supports 58 chapters), plus a quick view of international affiliates. All figures come from the charity’s own filings and reports.
Make-A-Wish America: FY2024 And FY2023 Snapshot
Make-A-Wish America files a yearly IRS Form 990 and also publishes audited financials. The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2024 shows total revenue of $130,963,023. The prior year totaled $135,276,222. The audited statements for FY2023 report broader “revenues, gains, and other support” of $251,052,894 because they include donated goods and services valued at $116,001,312. That explains why audited totals can read higher than the IRS total.
Financial Snapshot: Make-A-Wish America (U.S. National Office)
| Line Item | FY2024 (U.S. Dollars) | FY2023 (U.S. Dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Receipts (IRS definition) | $158,134,520 | — |
| Contributions & Grants | $100,549,595 | $107,044,630 |
| Program Service Revenue | $24,432,207 | $24,121,247 |
| Investment Income | $2,322,545 | $485,159 |
| Other Revenue | $3,658,676 | $3,625,186 |
| Total Revenue (IRS Form 990) | $130,963,023 | $135,276,222 |
| Total Expenses (IRS Form 990) | $125,537,455 | $124,505,937 |
| Change In Net Assets (IRS Form 990) | $5,425,568 | $10,770,285 |
| Total Assets (End of Year) | $116,748,112 | $107,210,146 |
| Total Liabilities (End of Year) | $37,360,366 | $36,254,081 |
| Net Assets (End of Year) | $79,387,746 | $70,956,065 |
Figures above are pulled from the FY2024 public inspection copy of the IRS Form 990 and the comparative prior-year lines on that same filing.
How Much Money Does Make-A-Wish Raise A Year? By The Numbers
To answer the keyword directly: how much money does make-a-wish raise a year depends on the source document. Using the IRS view, Make-A-Wish America brought in about $131 million in FY2024. Using the audited view for FY2023, the total was about $251 million when you include donated goods and services that help grant wishes.
Why The Two Totals Can Differ
IRS Form 990 shows revenue categories the tax code tracks. Audited statements add non-cash support, such as donated airline miles, travel services, and other in-kind items used to fulfill wishes. That in-kind line was $116,001,312 in FY2023, which is why the audited total jumps higher than the IRS total for the same period.
Where The Money Comes From
The national office raises money through individual giving, corporate partnerships, events, chapter assessments, and other income. Local chapters raise funds in their communities and receive cash and in-kind support from the national office. In FY2024, the foundation reported distributing $60,421,786 in cash and in-kind support to chapters to help grant wishes.
Make-A-Wish: U.S. Filings You Can Read
If you want to see the raw documents, read the FY2024 Form 990 and the audited financials for FY2023. Make-A-Wish also keeps a current list of reports on its Managing Our Funds page. These are the most direct sources for up-to-date totals.
Close Variation: How Much Money Make-A-Wish Raises Each Year — U.S. Vs. Global
Make-A-Wish is a global network. The U.S. national office and chapters operate under Make-A-Wish America. Outside the U.S., Make-A-Wish International supports affiliates in dozens of countries. Each publishes separate figures and may use different fiscal years. Here’s a quick sampler to show the scale beyond the U.S. totals.
Selected Affiliate Revenue Totals (Most Recent Reports)
| Entity | Fiscal Year | Total Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Make-A-Wish International | FY2023 | $13.3 million (USD) |
| Make-A-Wish UK | FY2023/24 | £12.2 million (GBP) |
| Make-A-Wish America (Audited) | FY2023 | $251.1 million (USD) |
Sources: Make-A-Wish International 2023 Impact Report; Make-A-Wish UK 2023/24 annual accounts; Make-A-Wish America FY2023 audited statements.
What “Raised” Means In Practice
When people say “raised,” they often mean cash given by donors. The audited totals also count donated goods and services that directly pay for parts of a wish. Airline miles, hotel nights, venue space, and event sponsorships reduce cash outlays while still expanding the wish budget. That’s why the audited total paints a fuller picture of annual support.
Cash Vs. In-Kind: A Quick Guide
Cash contributions are funds that hit the bank. In-kind contributions are donated goods or services recorded at fair value under accounting rules. In FY2023, Make-A-Wish America recorded $101,924,168 in cash contributions and $116,001,312 in donated goods and services on the audited statements. That mix shows how partner donations can stretch the wish program without always showing up as cash.
How Chapters And The National Office Fit Together
Make-A-Wish America is the national backbone. It funds national campaigns, manages brand partnerships, and supports chapters with training and systems. Chapters fundraise locally and deliver wishes in their states. In FY2024, the national office reported 58 active chartered chapters and indicated the scale of cash and in-kind distributions that flow outward to them.
What You Can Safely Say When Asked
- U.S. IRS view (FY2024): Make-A-Wish America reported $130.96M in total revenue.
- U.S. audited view (FY2023): Including donated goods and services, total “revenues, gains, and other support” reached $251.05M.
- International snapshot: Make-A-Wish International reported $13.3M in FY2023; Make-A-Wish UK reported £12.2M for FY2023/24.
Method Notes: How These Totals Were Chosen
Numbers in this article are taken from the latest available filings at the time of writing. IRS Form 990 figures are ideal when you want a standard, comparable view across U.S. nonprofits. Audited statements add non-cash support that shows the real scope of wish funding. For quick access later, bookmark the organization’s Managing Our Funds page where new reports are posted.
FAQ-Style Clarifications Without The FAQ Block
Does The U.S. Total Include Every Chapter?
The IRS filing cited here is for Make-A-Wish Foundation of America (national office). Chapters file their own returns and reports. The audited 2023 national statements also reflect large in-kind support that benefits chapters through distributions.
Why Use Both IRS And Audited Sources?
Each document answers a different angle. Donor-facing questions often care about cash raised; program reach depends on both cash and in-kind. Using both sources gives a grounded view that matches how wishes get funded.
Bottom Line For Readers
If someone asks “how much money does make-a-wish raise a year,” the clearest reply is this: the U.S. national office reported about $131M in FY2024 total revenue on the IRS filing, and the prior year’s audited report showed $251M when in-kind support is counted. Both are accurate; they answer slightly different versions of the same question.