How do you find the children?
The wish children are referred to us by their parents, physician, social worker, teacher or neighbor. Some kids even refer themselves. Anyone can refer a child to the Make-A-Wish Foundation®. But the family needs to be aware of and agree to the referral.

Are all the children terminal?
No, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® fulfills wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. A great majority of the children we have helped are still alive today.

Do most of the wish children have cancer?
No, while children with cancer are probably our biggest population of children served, we also work with children who have a range of medical conditions including Duchennes' Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis, heart disease, transplants and many other syndromes and medical conditiones.


Volunteering FAQs
How much of a time commitment is needed for volunteers?
The Foundation does not mandate specific time commitments for any volunteers. Some wishes, like gift wishes, are quickly and easily fulfilled. Some, like travel wishes, could take longer because the family travels on their timetable.

I'm not 21 years old. Can I still volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation®?
Although all wish volunteers must be 18 years old to work on wishes, there are a number of other volunteer opportunities including helping at events, working in the Make-A-Wish office or organizing a fund raiser at school.

Do I have to contribute to the Foundation to become a volunteer?
No, you do not have to make a contribution to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® to become a volunteer. However you will have to pay for a criminal background check which is required by the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America.

Do wish volunteers travel with the family/child?
No, there are 75 other Make-A-Wish® chapters around the country. When we send a wish family to another state, that chapter will help facilitate the wish.

Why are wishes handled by wish teams rather than individuals?
A two or three-person team provides a good support network when working on wishes. If one volunteer is busy, the other one can pick up the slack. And in emotional situations, it is good to have a wish partner to lean on. Finally, working in teams helps to protect volunteers from potential accusations of impropriety.


Financing FAQs
How do you pay for the wishes?
We rely entirely on private donations from individuals, companies, foundations, schools and corporations. We receive no government funds or grants.

How much of my donation actually goes towards the cost of wishes?
100% if you so designate. Our Wishmaker program makes it possible for you to direct your entire contribution to the cost of wishes.

How much of Make-A-Wish's funds are spent on wishes?
85.4% of all funds spent go towards fulfilling wishes.

How are the rest of Make-A-Wish's funds spent?
10.2% are used on fund raising, 4.4% are used on administration and as stated above, 85.4% are used to make wishes come true.

Does the Make-A-Wish Foundation® conduct telemarketing campaigns?
No, the Foundation has a policy against telemarketing because it is considered intrusive and not cost-effective. However, be careful of sound-alike organizations that conduct aggressive telemarketing campaigns. Many donors are confused and think they are donating to the Make-A-Wish Foundation®. They are not.

Will my donation help local children or will it be sent to your national organization?
Donations raised in our chapter territory stay local to help fund wish granting of children in North Dakota. Donors can request that their donation be restricted to a specific geographic area, if desired.

How much do wishes cost?
The average cost of a wish is $5,500, which is based on our most popular wish, a trip to Disney World. Anyone single donor who gives $5,500 or more is considered a Wishmaker ®.