Make-A-Wish International
Make-A-Wish International is a non-profit organization and the global governing body that oversees the activities of Make-A-Wish Affiliates and Licensed Territories outside of the United States. Established in 1993 and headquartered in Hilversum, Netherlands, the organization facilitates life-changing wishes for children facing critical illnesses across nearly 50 countries.[1][2]
History
The Make-A-Wish foundation began in 1980 in the United States, inspired by the wish of 7-year-old Chris Greicius to become a police officer. Chris had leukemia, and the community came together to make his wish come true. While the concept originated in the U.S., the movement quickly expanded internationally. The history of Make-A-Wish International is intrinsically tied to the establishment of the first Affiliates outside the United States, leading to the formal creation of the international entity in 1993 to ensure global consistency, quality, and support for the growing worldwide network.[1]
Mission and role
Make-A-Wish International is the global organization that exists to support the Make-A-Wish network outside of the United States. Its role is to support its international network of Affiliates and Licensed Territories by providing support, coordination, shared standards, research, and global initiatives that help strengthen wish delivery and organizational sustainability over time.
The organization works to expand access to wishes for children with critical illnesses, to build and share evidence on the impact of wishes, and to encourage collaboration and long-term resilience across the network. Make-A-Wish International also works with global corporate and philanthropic partners in support of these efforts, aligning with international cooperation and sustainability goals to help strengthen the reach, quality, and consistency of wish experiences worldwide.
Wishes are categorized into four primary types: to go, to be, to meet, and to have.[3] In 2025, more than 17,500 wishes were granted across the Make-A-Wish International network.
Impact and research
Make-A-Wish International conducts global research to evaluate the scale of its mission and the impact of wish fulfillment on children with critical illnesses.
Prevalence and incidence research
In 2024, Make-A-Wish International collaborated with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington to conduct prevalence and incidence research. Using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, the organization developed country-specific paediatric disease profiles for qualifying conditions. This locally relevant, globally consistent data serves as the foundation for Make-A-Wish International's strategic plan and supports the strategies of its Affiliates. The research is intended to inform growth plans, identify potentially underserved populations, guide medical outreach, anticipate wish demand, and support fundraising efforts.
Theory of change research
In 2022, Make-A-Wish International engaged Research for Impact, a Singapore-based research company, to develop a Global Theory of Change model. The model identifies wish-granting outcomes that are universal across Affiliates at a regional and global level, and maps how each stage of the Wish Journey contributes to short, medium, and long-term outcomes for wish children and their families. An article based on this research was published in the peer-reviewed journal Children in 2024.[3]
Presence around the world
The following table highlights some of the earliest and largest Affiliates and Licensed Territories within the international network:
| Affiliate name | Date founded |
|---|---|
| Make-A-Wish United States of America | 1980 |
| Make-A-Wish Canada | 1983 |
| Make-A-Wish Foundation of Australia | 1985 |
| Make-A-Wish Foundation UK | 1986 |
| Make-A-Wish New Zealand | 1986 |
| Make-A-Wish Netherlands | 1989 |
| Make-A-Wish Belgium-Vlaanderen / South | 1990 |
| Make-A-Wish Ireland | 1992 |
| Make-A-Wish Japan | 1992 |
| Make-A-Wish Chile | 1994 |
| Make-A-Wish Taiwan | 1994 |
| Make-A-Wish India | 1995 |
| Make-A-Wish Panamá | 1995 |
| Make-A-Wish Greece | 1996 |
| Make-A-Wish Israel | 1996 |
| Make-A-Wish Austria | 1997 |
| Make-A-Wish Hong Kong | 1998 |
| Make-A-Wish Denmark | 1999 |
| Make-A-Wish Philippines | 1999 |
| Make-A-Wish Türkiye | 2000 |
| Make-A-Wish Argentina | 2002 |
| Make-A-Wish Korea | 2002 |
| Make-A-Wish Singapore | 2002 |
| Make-A-Wish Perú | 2003 |
| Make-A-Wish Switzerland and Liechtenstein | 2003 |
| Make-A-Wish Italy | 2004 |
| Make-A-Wish France | 2005 |
| Make-A-Wish Portugal | 2007 |
| Make-A-Wish Brazil | 2008 |
| Make-A-Wish Germany | 2008 |
| Make-A-Wish Colombia | 2010 |
| Make-A-Wish Malaysia | 2010 |
| Make-A-Wish United Arab Emirates | 2010 |
| Make-A-Wish México | 2012 |
| Make-A-Wish Norway | 2017 |
| Make-A-Wish Shanghai | 2017 |
| Make-A-Wish Saudi Arabia | 2023 |
| Make-A-Wish Ecuador | 2024 |
| Make-A-Wish Indonesia | 2024 |
| Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka | 2025 |
| Make-A-Wish Tanzania | 2025 |
Partnerships and accountability
Make-A-Wish International maintains a network of corporate partnerships across various sectors, including entertainment, sports, pharmaceuticals, and hospitality. Partnerships include those with Formula One, Porsche, and Club Med. These collaborations are structured to support global operations through financial contributions, marketing support, and the provision of in-kind goods and services necessary for wish fulfillment.
While the organization collaborates with numerous international brands, its relationship with The Walt Disney Company is noted for its longevity and scale. Since 1980, the partnership has resulted in over 175,000 wishes, making it the organization's most significant corporate collaboration. In addition to financial support, these partnerships often involve multi-year commitments that integrate corporate social responsibility initiatives with the foundation's global mission.
Make-A-Wish International maintains high standards of financial transparency:
- It holds a 4-star rating (96%) from Charity Navigator.[4]
- It meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability set by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.[5]
- It has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar), the highest level of recognition offered.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Our History". Make-A-Wish International. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
- ↑ "Resources: Other Helpful Organizations". Blood Cancer United. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Roberts, H.; Cook, J.; Lee, A.; Loh, W. K.; Teo, N.; Yoong, J. S. Y.; Gorter-Stam, M. (2025). "Wish-granting interventions promote positive emotions in both the short and long term in children with critical illnesses and their families". Children. 12 (1): 47. doi:10.3390/children12010047. PMC 11763413 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 39857878 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ "Make-A-Wish International Rating Summary". Charity Navigator. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ↑ "Charity Review: Make-A-Wish International". BBB Wise Giving Alliance. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Nonprofit Profile: Make-A-Wish Foundation International". Candid. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
Category:Non-profit organizations Category:Children's charities Category:Organizations established in 1993 Category:Organizations based in the Netherlands Category:Hilversum
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