Partnerships for the Goals

SDG 17 is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that refers to the need for fair cross-sector and cross-country collaborations in pursuit of sustainable development.
Make-A-Wish International is strongly aligned to the SDG 17 through our efforts in resource mobilization, capability building, and technology innovation. We secure financial resources via grants, donations, and partnerships to support our network of Affiliates, as well as build tools, trainings to empower them and develop capacities and best practices. Additionally, we promote access to sustainable technology, driving digital transformation with a responsible use of advanced technology tools.

Resource Mobilization and Fundraising

Mobilizing financial resources through grants, donations, innovative financing, and partnerships to support sustainable projects and initiatives. (17.3, 17.5)

Make-A-Wish International strives to build impactful partnerships with both the public and private sectors to generate funds and increase awareness for our mission. By supporting and empowering our Affiliates, we aim to drive sustainable initiatives and projects. Our efforts focus on mobilizing financial resources through grants, donations, innovative financing, and strategic collaborations.

Funding Support: Make-A-Wish International redistributed over $11.0 million funds (including both cash and in-kind donations) raised through donations, partnerships, and other initiatives to its Affiliate network, with half of these Affiliates located in UN-designated developing countries.
Partnership Development: These collaborations aimed to raise funds, provide in-kind contributions, and enhance international awareness of the Make-A-Wish mission.

Capability Building

Providing training, developing capacities, and sharing best practices to empower our Affiliates and other stakeholders in sustainable development practices. (17.9, 17.18)

Make-A-Wish International empowers Affiliates, communities, and stakeholders in sustainable development by providing training, developing capability, and sharing best practices within our network of 40 Affiliates, granting wishes in nearly 50 countries worldwide. Our initiatives include:

Training Programs

We focus on educating our network on best practices, strategies, and compliance requirements while providing resources to enhance our operational model and strengthen leadership.

Leadership Academy: We ran three online Leadership Academies for CEO’s, Chairs, Boards with MAWA – over 200 individuals attended globally (MAWI/MAWA) FY25 and a session planned in Orlando FY26. Due to the commitment of Pro-bono coaches – 10 CEO’s completed online coaching programmes in FY25.
RISE Platform: 669 users, 80 courses (due to clean up prior to migration to Reach360).

Community Building

We foster collaboration and a sense of belonging through forums, webinars, roundtables, and summits designed to enhance connection across our network.

Summit & Round Tables: No Summit in CY25. Rountables (1) the APAC and ME region met face to face for three days in Hong Kong (2) The two European Regions met in Geneva for two days(3) LATAM met virtually. Across all three roundtables around 100 individuals attended (out of approx 750 in the network).
Workvivo Platform: Launched in June 2024, Workvivo connects 383 active users across 83 spaces, creating a vibrant online community within our network.

Technology and Innovation for Development

Promoting access to technology and fostering innovative solutions to address sustainable development challenges, especially in underserved areas. (17.6, 17.8)

Make-A-Wish International is leveraging technology and innovation to scale our operations, reach more children, and create a greater impact in our communities. By developing robust, global online platforms, we can improve the efficiency of our core processes for both internal and external stakeholders, including our Affiliates. Simplifying the process of tracking wish granting and enhancing the ability to communicate with wish families, volunteers, and doctors allows for greater reach and higher quality experiences.

Additionally, utilizing social media channels can help raise awareness and engage a broader audience, fostering a supportive community and driving supporters and donations through compelling stories and real-time updates. Furthermore, implementing advanced data analytics will enable us and our Affiliates to gain deeper insights into the needs and preferences of the children we serve, allowing for a more personalized and efficient wish-granting process. Through these technological advancements, Make-A-Wish International and its Affiliates can continue to fulfill their mission more effectively and reach even more children in need.