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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: September 2023 Expires: September 2025

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
Accreditation seal
(804) 234-9474
2810 North Parham Road, Suite 302
Richmond, VA, 23294
https://www.wish.org/va
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses."

Year, State Incorporated:
1987, VA

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia (MAW Greater Virginia) grants wishes to children with critical illness. MAW Greater Virginia reports that wishes can be transformative for the entire family, providing parents, siblings, and the children with something to look forward to, and joyful to remember. The organization reports granting 150 wishes during the fiscal year ended 2022.

For the year ended August 31, 2022, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia's program expenses were:

Program services: $1,549,622

Total Program Expenses: $1,549,622

Chief Executive
Sheri Lambert, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$177,036

Chair of the Board
William Howard

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired, Mercer, Inc.

Board Size
16

Paid Staff Size
15

*2021 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Special events, Print advertisements, Corporate solicitation

Fundraising costs were 22% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $2,470,978, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia's audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2022.

Source of Funds
Contributions $1,620,818
In-kind contributions $338,993
Special events, net $223,203
Investment income, net $-75,518
Paycheck Protection Progam Loan forgiveness $149,140
Other income $1,096
Grants $137,924
Total Income $2,395,656

Programs: 61% Fundraising: 22% Administrative: 18%

Total Income $2,395,656
Total expenses: $2,551,126
  Program expenses $1,549,622
  Fundraising expenses $549,856
  Administrative expenses $451,648
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-155,470
Beginning Net Assets $1,224,477
Other Changes In Net Assets $-31
Ending Net Assets $1,068,976
Total Liabilities $229,521
Total Assets $1,298,497

Note 1: In the financial summary above, "other changes in net assets" refers to the disposal of property and equipment ($31).
Note 2: According to MAW Greater Virginia’s audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2022, the organization received in-kind contributions of $338,993 in goods and services.

Note 3: In finding that MAW Greater Virginia meets Standard 8, which calls for a minimum of 65% of total expenses being spent on program activities, BBB WGA considered that, although the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2022, report total expenses of $1,549,622 or 61% of total expenses, program expenses were significantly affected by COVID-19 restrictions. As stated by the charity, “In response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, on March 10, 2020, in conjunction with the Make-A-Wish America National Medical Advisory Council, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America issued instructions to pause travel and large gathering wishes until it was deemed medically safe for our vulnerable population and their families.  Prior to Fiscal 2020, travel wishes had been 84% of the wishes granted and the number of granted wishes averaged approximately 182. In addition, the program expense ratio was impacted due to the Foundation’s inability to grant travel wishes. The program expense ratio was 77% in the pre-pandemic fiscal year ending August 31, 2019.  Toward the end of fiscal year 2022, the Foundation began to emerge from Pandemic operating conditions and national wish travel was resumed.  National efforts are underway to return to pre-pandemic wish granting and fundraising efforts.” During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2022, MAW Greater Virginia states it was able to grant 150 wishes and the organization expects the program service ratio to increase above 65% once travel can resume.

 

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance