FAQ

Make-A-Wish grants wishes to individuals who meet two preliminary criteria: (1) children who have reached the age of 3 and are under the age of 18, and (2) who have been diagnosed with a critical illness, i.e., a progressive, degenerative, or malignant medical condition that has placed the child’s life in jeopardy. A child’s treating physician will determine if the child is medically eligible for a wish, based on the medical criteria established by Make-A-Wish.

Although granting wishes to adults is not within the scope of our mission and we are unable to make any exceptions, there are other organizations that serve individuals over the age of 18. We encourage you to use a search engine to find an organization that provides similar services to adults. Make-A-Wish does not hold a contact list of such organizations and is not affiliated to any such entities.

No, a child does not have to be terminally ill. In fact, many of our wish children grow into adulthood and lead healthy, happy lives.

No, Make-A-Wish International grants one wish to each eligible child.

Each Make-A-Wish affiliate follows specific policies and guidelines for granting a child’s wish. Some wishes have restrictions based on various factors, including the child’s medical condition in relation to the wish request. Make-A-Wish takes into consideration all factors as they relate to the wish and the wish child, and then plans the wish accordingly.

No, all wish expenses are fully covered by Make-A-Wish. Wishes are arranged and paid for by Make-A-Wish with no out-of-pocket expenses for the wish family.

No, Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children who qualify for our services without regard to race, creed, religion, sex, or economic status.

It is not easy to specify how long it takes from wish referral to wish fulfilment as it often depends upon the wish requested. In some situations a wish child may have to wait for their wish due to circumstances such as the child’s treatment schedule or the availability of a popular celebrity. If the fulfillment of a wish must be delayed for any reason, the wish child and family are fully informed, and the wish child is given the option to either make another wish request or wait.

As every wish is different, costs vary  depending on the wish. Whenever possible, Make-A-Wish seeks in-kind donations to help reduce wish expenses.

Typically, wishes fall into one of five general categories.
I wish to go …
Some Make-A-Wish kids want to travel to their favorite theme park, while others want to visit an exotic beach, go on a cruise, or attend a major sporting event or concert.
I wish to be …
Children search the depths of their imagination when they wish to be someone for a day – a fireman, a police officer, a doctor, a princess, a pirate, a model or a superhero.
I wish to meet …
Many wish kids choose to meet their favorite athlete, recording artist, television personality, movie star, politician or other public figure.
I wish to have …
Children sometimes wish for a special gift, such as a computer, a tree house, cooking lessons at a renowned cooking institution or a shopping spree.
I wish to experience …
Many wish kids want to have an experience, such as feeling the sand in their feet, seeing snow for the first time.

Make-A-Wish International is not a grant-giving organization and does not provide any funding to third-party organizations. Make-A-Wish International and our Affiliate network exist solely and exclusively to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses.
This means no grants, sponsorships, scholarships or other types of financial assistance are provided to third party organizations or individuals by Make-A-Wish International. We will not review or respond to such funding requests. This also applies to funding requests related to medical bills or care costs.
We hope that you can appreciate that our focus lies in delivering our core mission and we are unable to support causes that do not fully align with our focus.

To find a complete list of Make-A-Wish International Affiliates, visit the Around the World page.

We regret that it is not possible to grant wishes to children who reside in countries where Make-A-Wish does not yet have an affiliate; however, if your child is receiving medical treatment for an extended length of time in a country where there is a Make-A-Wish office, it may be possible to grant your child’s wish. To refer a child for a wish, please visit the Around the World page in the navigation or submit an inquiry via our Contact Form.

Our vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child. Therefore, Make-A-Wish continuously explores and evaluates sustainable opportunities for reaching critically ill children in new geographical locations. Should you or someone you know be interested in opening an Affiliate in a country where there is currently none, please send us a message stating your interest via our Contact Form . Please outline your background and experience as well as the need in the relevant location. We will consider the proposal and how it aligns with our strategic plan and get in touch with you with further steps if appropriate. Please be advised that the process of setting up a new Affiliate is time and resource intense since our focus is on the long-term sustainability of the new Affiliate.