Nonprofit · EIN 86-0481941
MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
Tax-exempt · PHOENIX, AZ 85016
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31, 2025 | 990 | $136,767,956 | $137,816,534 | -$1,048,578 | $125,508,364 | $40,033,358 | $85,475,006 |
| August 31, 2024 | 990 | $130,963,023 | $125,537,455 | $5,425,568 | $116,748,112 | $37,360,366 | $79,387,746 |
| August 31, 2023 | 990 (amended) | $135,276,222 | $124,505,937 | $10,770,285 | $107,210,146 | $36,254,081 | $70,956,065 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $105,409,792
- Program service revenue
- $25,995,429
- Investment income
- $1,984,160
- Net rental income
- -$609,008
- Net gain from sales of assets
- -$95,585
- Other revenue
- $3,378,575
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $66,860,765
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $4,317,949
- Other salaries and wages
- $21,657,628
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $31,417,173
- Professional fundraising fees
- $5,753,932
- Legal fees
- $81,781
- Accounting fees
- $1,710,091
- Travel
- $1,008,416
- Depreciation
- $2,833,902
- Program services (functional)
- $91,952,190
- Management and general (functional)
- $24,129,305
- Fundraising (functional)
- $21,735,039
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $116,748,112
- Total assets, end of year
- $125,508,364
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $40,033,358
- Net assets, end of year
- $85,475,006
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $30,191,463
- Publicly traded securities
- $46,308,503
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $46,015,160
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $39,459,846
- Gross unrelated business income
- -$567,718
- Gross receipts
- $152,858,048
- Employees
- 269
- Volunteers
- 58
- Year formed
- 1983
- State of legal domicile
- AZ
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LESLIE MOTTER | PRESIDENT & CEO Officer | 40 | $702,370 | $37,250 |
| LUANN BOTT | CRPSO (FORMER) Former | 40 | $356,661 | $12,095 |
| JARED PERRY | CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Officer | 40 | $323,050 | $24,500 |
| KAREN SMITH | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer | 40 | $313,850 | $14,200 |
| AMY BRINDLEY | CCAO (FORMER) Former | 40 | $282,826 | $36,650 |
| CATHLEEN PAUGH | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/TREASUER Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $305,264 | $12,750 |
| JANELL HOLAS | CHIEF BRAND ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Officer | 40 | $298,793 | $14,200 |
| FRANCES HALL | CHIEF MISSION OFFICER Officer | 40 | $293,117 | $10,186 |
| TERRI FOULKS | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Officer | 40 | $283,837 | $13,400 |
| YVONNE MOSS | CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER/SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $242,239 | $11,297 |
| BRIAN POWELL | SD, LEADERSHIP & PLANNED GIVING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $223,790 | $11,139 |
| FLORENDA NEWTON | CHIEF CORPORATE ALLIANCE OFFICER Officer | 40 | $219,782 | $10,944 |
| THOMAS PARKER | CTO (FORMER) Former | 40 | $196,189 | $33,444 |
| ADAM FAIRCLOTH | CIFO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $217,936 | $10,852 |
| MOHANNAD ALADWAN | SD, IT APPS. & BUSINESS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $185,484 | $9,229 |
30 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JENNIFER CONNERY | CCRO (AS OF 10/2024) Officer | 40 | $185,104 | $9,191 |
| JONATHAN SMITH | SD, DIGITAL & BRAND COMMUNICATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $188,830 | $2,604 |
| SCOTT FRIER | SD, STRATEGY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $179,983 | $8,950 |
| TERESA DURAN | CIO (FORMER) Former | 40 | $180,057 | $4,960 |
| KEITH GOODWIN | CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Officer | 40 | $158,075 | $0 |
| MELISSA SPARKS | CCAO (AS OF 9/2024) Officer | 40 | $82,819 | $4,212 |
| REBA DOMINSKI | CHAIR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ORLANDO ASHFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOLF BERLE | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 10/2024) Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT BRAUN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| PHIL COLACO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOSH D'AMARO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHIRLEY DAVIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG ECKROTE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| WHITNEY EICHINGER | DIRECTOR (AS OF 4/2025) Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KATE GEBO | DIRECTOR (AS OF 4/2025) Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KERI GOHMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DERRICK HALL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHERYL HEINONEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOAQUIN HIDALGO | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 10/2024) Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVEN IZEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| REBECCA MESSINA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| STAN MOSS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SUNDEEP REDDY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TIERNEY REMICK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LINDA RUTHERFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| AMY WALDRON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CONSTANCE WEAVER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES WILKINSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE WILSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended August 31, 2024: 43 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LESLIE MOTTER | PRESIDENT & CEO Officer | 40 | $657,331 | $36,750 |
| THOMAS PARKER | CTO (THRU 4/2024) Officer | 40 | $344,535 | $36,750 |
| AMY BRINDLEY | CCAO (THRU 8/2024) Officer | 40 | $318,327 | $35,510 |
| LUANN BOTT | CRPSO (THRU 8/2024) Officer | 40 | $316,624 | $12,750 |
| TERESA DURAN | CIO (THRU 3/2024) Officer | 40 | $307,665 | $12,750 |
| CATHLEEN PAUGH | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $297,806 | $10,202 |
| FRANCES HALL | CHIEF MISSION OFFICER Officer | 40 | $293,158 | $10,290 |
| JANELL HOLAS | CHIEF BRAND ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Officer | 40 | $290,006 | $12,446 |
| TERRI FOULKS | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Officer | 40 | $268,882 | $2,984 |
| KAREN WELLS | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $249,083 | $10,940 |
| FLORENDA NEWTON | SD, CORPORATE ALLIANCES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $222,920 | $11,101 |
| BRIAN POWELL | SD, LEADERSHIP & PLANNED GIVING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $223,517 | $8,950 |
| KRISTIE KIRSCHNER | SD, CH REVENUE SVS (THRU 2/2024) Highest-paid employee | 40 | $221,255 | $2,463 |
| ADAM FAIRCLOTH | CIFO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $213,277 | $5,627 |
| YVONNE MOSS | CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER/ SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $196,433 | $10,893 |
| JARED PERRY | CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Officer | 40 | $179,371 | $600 |
| DERRICK HALL | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GEORGE BARRIOS | CHAIR (THRU 11/2023) Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| REBA DOMINSKI | CHAIR - ELECT Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| AMY WALDRON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CARLOS CATA | DIRECTOR (THRU 11/2023) Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHERYL HEINONEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS BEARD | DIRECTOR (THRU 11/2023) Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CONSTANCE WEAVER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOLF BERLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DON YAEGER | DIRECTOR (THRU 11/2023) Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG ECKROTE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES WILKINSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOAQUIN HIDALGO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOSH D'AMARO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KERI GOHMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LINDA RUTHERFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE WILSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ORLANDO ASHFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| PHIL COLACO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| REBECCA MESSINA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT BRAUN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHARLYN HESLAM | DIRECTOR (THRU 11/2023) Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHIRLEY DAVIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| STAN MOSS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVEN IZEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SUNDEEP REDDY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TIERNEY REMICK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended August 31, 2023: 48 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD DAVIS | PRESIDENT & CEO (THRU 11/2022) Officer | 40 | $556,576 | $20,500 |
| LESLIE MOTTER | PRESIDENT & CEO Officer | 40 | $468,954 | $34,750 |
| ALICE RODD O'ROURKE | CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER (THRU 4/2023) Officer | 40 | $431,607 | $34,750 |
| THOMAS PARKER | CHIEF TRANSFORMATION OFFICER Officer | 40 | $323,281 | $14,250 |
| LUANN BOTT | CHIEF REVENUE PRTN. & SVS OFFICER Officer | 40 | $313,202 | $12,750 |
| DAVID MULVIHILL | CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER (THRU 9/2022) Officer | 40 | $297,076 | $10,312 |
| AMY BRINDLEY | CHIEF CHAPTER ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Officer | 40 | $282,576 | $11,916 |
| JANELL HOLAS | CHIEF BRAND ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Officer | 40 | $271,561 | $10,881 |
| FRANCES HALL | CHIEF MISSION OFFICER Officer | 40 | $269,793 | $9,257 |
| TERESA DURAN | CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Officer | 40 | $260,165 | $2,059 |
| CHRISTOPHER M DECENT | SR DIRECTOR, CHAPTER REVENUE SERVICES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $237,808 | $1,500 |
| FLORENDA NEWTON | SR DIRECTOR, CORPORATE ALLIANCES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $214,729 | $8,859 |
| DARYL M THOMANN | SR DIRECTOR, CHAPTER PERFORMANCE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $189,420 | $10,622 |
| YVONNE MOSS | CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL Officer | 40 | $184,167 | $10,301 |
| CATHLEEN PAUGH | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 40 | $191,894 | $0 |
| JONATHAN SMITH | SR DIRECTOR, DIGITAL & BRAND COMM. Highest-paid employee | 40 | $182,021 | $1,808 |
| ADRIENNE LEAVITT | SR DIRECTOR, PRODUCT MANAGEMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $177,418 | $0 |
| TERRI FOULKS | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER (BEGAN 11/2022) Officer | 40 | $23,152 | $0 |
| GEORGE BARRIOS | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| AMY WALDRON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CARLOS CATA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHERYL HEINONEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS BEARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CONSTANCE WEAVER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DANIEL YOHANNES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DERRICK HALL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOLF BERLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DON YAEGER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG ECKROTE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DR SACHIN JAIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GJ HART | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES WILKINSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOAQUIN HIDALGO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOSH D'AMARO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KERI GOHMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LINDA RUTHERFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE WILSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RANDALL SLOAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| REBA DOMINSKI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| REBECCA MESSINA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT CHAPEK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT BRAUN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHARLYN HESLAM | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHIRLEY DAVIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| STAN MOSS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVEN IZEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SPENCER NEUMANN | DIRECTOR (THRU 10/2022) Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JARED PERRY | CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER (BEGAN 5/2023) Officer | 40 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1702 E HIGHLAND AVE STE 400, PHOENIX, AZ 85016-4630
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- LESLIE MOTTER, 1702 E HIGHLAND AVENUE 400, PHOENIX, AZ 85016
- Signed the 990
- CATHLEEN PAUGH, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
- Phone
- (602) 279-9474
- Website
- WWW.WISH.ORG
- Return prepared by
- CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP
Mission
TOGETHER, WE CREATE LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES.
Program accomplishments
- THE FOUNDATION PERFORMS ACTIVITIES WHICH PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT AND HANDLING OF RESOURCES USED TO GRANT THE WISHES OF CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES AND SUPPORTS AFFILIATED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS (CHAPTERS) IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THEIR WISH PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTED $66,649,595 IN CASH AND IN-KINDS TO THE CHAPTERS TO GRANT WISHES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2025. AS OF AUGUST 31, 2025, THE FOUNDATION HAS 57 ACTIVE CHARTERED CHAPTERS.Expenses $91,952,190 · grants $66,860,765 · revenue $25,995,429
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in August, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | August 31, 2026 | January 15, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | August 31, 2025 | January 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | August 31, 2024 | January 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 86-0481941
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1986
- Accounting year ends
- August
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $125,508,364
- Income (IRS master file)
- $152,858,048
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | August 2025 | $136,767,956 | $137,816,534 | $125,508,364 | IRS |
| 990-T | August 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2024 | $130,963,023 | $125,537,455 | $116,748,112 | XML |
| 990-T | August 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2023 | $135,276,222 | $124,505,937 | $107,210,146 | XML |
| 990-T | August 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2022 | $128,554,773 | $114,222,733 | $94,735,350 | IRS |
| 990-T | August 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | August 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 86-0481941).
Questions about MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
- What is the EIN of MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA is 86-0481941.
- Is MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1986.
- Are donations to MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending August 31, 2026) is due January 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended August 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA?
- The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 names LESLIE MOTTER.
- Who are the officers and directors of MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA?
- The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 lists 45 people; 21 received compensation from the organization, the highest $702,370 (LESLIE MOTTER, PRESIDENT & CEO).
- How much revenue does MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA have?
- On its 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $136,767,956, expenses of $137,816,534 and total assets of $125,508,364 at year end.
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