Make-A-Wish's FAQ

Click on any question to view its answer.

1. Donate: What’s the average cost of a wish?

Wishes come in all shapes and sizes.  Some wishes can be very simple, while others can be quite complex.  For example, one child might wish to have a birthday party and another may wish for a vacation that requires travel arrangements for an entire family.  Costs can fluctuate drastically from wish to wish. Given these considerations, the wish value averages out to be about $7,200, which includes cash and in-kind resources. In order to become an Adopt-A-Wish® partner, you must make a donation of $5,000 to symbolically sponsor a child’s wish.  Click here for more information about the Adopt-A-Wish program.

2. Donate: Will my donation help local children or will it be sent to your national organization?

As a local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, it is our responsibility to raise all funds needed to grant local wishes.  Donations received within our chapter territory stay locally to help fund the wishes of children living in Oregon and Clark County, Washington.  In Fiscal Year 2009, the chapter granted 184 wishes throughout our territory.  Here’s a snapshot of wish numbers broken out by region:

  * Northwest Oregon & Clark County, Washington – 99 wishes
  * Willamette Valley & Central Coast – 56 wishes
  * Southern Oregon – 13 wishes
  * Central & Eastern Oregon – 16 wishes

3. Donate: How does the chapter pay for wishes?

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon is completely funded by private donations. Funding comes from individuals, corporate donations and sponsorships, foundation grants, workplace giving programs, planned gifts, special events and school fundraising.  The also Foundation relies on in-kind contributions to lessen the cost of goods and services.  We receive no government funds or grants.

4. Donate: How does the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon spend its funds?

Based on charitable standards of the Combined Federal Campaign, of each dollar spent in FY09,

  * 84 cents were spent on program services
  * 11 cents were spent on fundraising
  * 5 cents were spent on chapter administration

5. Donate: Does the Make-A-Wish Foundation conduct telemarketing campaigns?

The Make-A-Wish Foundation does not, under any circumstances, engage telemarketers to raise money, despite sometimes being confused with other organizations that do. In fact, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has a nationwide policy against telephone and door-to-door solicitation. There are a number of other sound-alike organizations – some also with “wish” in their names. The Make-A-Wish Foundation has no affiliation with any other wish-granting organization. If you receive a call from someone asking for a donation, ask the caller to send you more information.

6. Donate: Does the Make-A-Wish Foundation conduct chain letter campaigns?

No. Each day, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® and its chapters receive hundreds of inquiries about chain letters claiming to be associated with the Foundation and featuring sick children. However, we do not participate in these kinds of wishes. Some names associated with these wishes are: Amy Bruce, Jeff DeLeon, Rhyan Desquetado, LaNisha Jackson, Nikisha Johnson, Jessie Anderson, Kayla Wightman, Craig Shergold, Craig Sheldon, Craig Sheppard, Craig Shelton, Craig Shelford, Anthony Hebrank, Chad Briody and Bryan Warner.
If you receive a chain letter claiming ties to the Foundation, please:

  * Inform the sender that the Foundation does not participate in chain letter wishes.
  * Direct the sender and all recipients to this web page: http://wish.org/about/chain_letters
  * Do not forward the chain letter.
  * Refer senders to ways they can help the Foundation, such as referring a child, making a donation, donating their time & talents, or donating treasures

Only one of these requests is based in fact: In 1989, a then 9-year-old boy named Craig Shergold wanted to be recorded in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for receiving the most greeting cards. His wish was fulfilled in 1990 by another wish-granting organization not associated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He received more than 16 million cards. Craig is now a healthy adult, and he has requested an end to the mail. Mail that is received is forwarded to a recycling center. The time and expense required to respond to these inquiries distracts the Foundation from its efforts on behalf of children with life-threatening medical conditions, and more importantly, can divulge information that is potentially harmful to a child and his or her family.

7. Donate: Do you receive funding from the United Way?

Although the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon is NOT a United Way agency, you may designate your gift to us by completing the “Self Directed” gift portion on the United Way Form. Please make sure to include ALL of the following information: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon, 2000 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 410 Portland, OR 97201

8. Wish: Are there any wishes that the Make-A-Wish Foundation does NOT fulfill?

There are some wishes that the Make-A-Wish Foundation cannot grant, either due to national or local policies, liability, or the fact that it might impact our ability to fulfill the wishes of other children. Here is a partial list of these types of wishes:

• Gifts of designated sums of money.
• Motorized vehicles (cars, snowmobiles, go-carts, boats, etc…).
• Leasing, renting, or purchase of a home or residence.
• Wishes related to treatment or coverage of medical costs.
• Wishes involving the gift of or use of firearms, explosives, or weapons.
• Wishes that involve public solicitation (ex: most birthday cards ever, etc…).
• Wishes that may create an ongoing financial burden to the family (ex: real estate improvements).

9. Wish: Who is eligible for a wish?

A child must meet the following criteria to be eligible for a wish:

• be age 2 ½ through 17 years old (at the time of referral)
• can be verified by a physician to have a life-threatening medical condition
• has not previously received a wish from another wish-granting organization

10. Wish: Does a child’s condition have to be terminal to qualify for a wish?

No. Many of the children who qualify for a wish go on to lead healthy lives. We grant the wishes of medically eligible children (i.e. those diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions - i.e., a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that has placed the child’s life in jeopardy.)

11. Wish: How can I refer a child for a wish?

Out of respect for the privacy of the children and families we serve, children who may be eligible to receive a wish can be referred by one of three sources:

1) Medical professionals treating the child – such as doctors, nurses, social workers or child-life specialists
2) A parent or legal guardian of the potential wish child
3) The potential wish child

For more information, please visit: Make a referral

12. Wish: What is the average cost of a wish?

Wishes come in all shapes and sizes.  Some wishes can be very simple, while others can be quite complex.  For example, one child might wish to have a birthday party and another may wish for a vacation that requires travel arrangements for an entire family.  Costs can fluctuate drastically from wish to wish. Given these considerations, the wish value averages out to be about $7,200, which includes cash and in-kind resources. In order to Adopt-A-Wish® partner, you must make a donation of $5,000 to symbolically sponsor a child’s wish.

13. Wish: Are a family’s income or financial resources considered?

No. Financial circumstance and socio-economic status is not a consideration in determining whether a child is eligible to receive a wish.  Regardless of each family’s situation, the reality of a life-threatening medical condition is a strain on every family – a wish is a bright spot for the child and family to look forward to.

14. Wish: Does the family have to contribute toward the wish?

No. All wish expenses are fully covered, including all travel and spending money when appropriate. The Make-A-Wish Foundation’s objective is to create a memorable wish experience for both the child and family that is not clouded by financial concerns.

15. Wish: What do most children wish for?

Wishes are only limited by a child’s imagination. Generally, most wish requests fall into four 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. This is the most popular type of wish we grant.

I wish to meet…
Many want to meet their favorite athlete, recording artist, television personality, movie star, politician or public figure.

I wish to have…
Children often wish for a special gift, like a computer, a tree house, a shopping spree or something that they have coveted for a long time.

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 or a model.

To read more about wishes, visit the Wish Stories tab

16. Wish: Will the child’s family be included in the wish?

Family is a very important part of the wish process, and the volunteer wish granters attempt to make the wish memorable for everyone. Immediate family members living with the child have all shared in the grief of the illness and are invited to share in the joy and memories of a wish experience.

17. Wish: How is a wish determined?

Once a child’s eligibility for a wish is confirmed, we send one of our enthusiastic wish teams to learn the child’s one true wish. These passionate volunteers connect with wish children and help explore their imaginations for the experience that will delight and inspire them. When a wish team first visits with a child, the volunteers ask a simple question: “If you could have one wish, what would it be?”

We hope families will encourage wish children to wish for something that is truly special to them – without the influence of parent or sibling.

18. Wish: Do you grant wishes to adults?

No. The Make-A-Wish Foundation only grants wishes to children who have been referred to the organization, and determined to be eligible for a wish by their physician, before they turn 18. However, there are other wish-granting organizations that grant wishes to adults.

19. Volunteer: Do you have volunteer opportunities?

Volunteers are the foundation of our organization. Our chapter has more than 200 volunteers and only a small professional staff. In addition, a volunteer Board of Directors governs the chapter. To reach our goal of granting a wish to every eligible child throughout Oregon and Clark County, Washington, we need your help! You can volunteer in our office, work on a fundraiser with volunteers in your region, or personally grant wishes to local children in your community. Experienced volunteers and staff members provide training and support for newcomers.

For more information, visit our volunteer page.

20. Volunteer: What roles do volunteers fill?

There are several ways to become involved as a volunteer: become a wish granter, help with fundraising or be a wish consultant.

Wish Granters - Work in teams to help facilitate the wish process from beginning to completion. Work directly with wish children to ascertain a wish, coordinate with staff to plan the wish, seek in-kind goods and services for the wish or enhancements, and throw the fun party to celebrate the hope, strength and joy of wish! 

Fundraising - Chair and/or participate on an event planning committee, help out at special events, or represent the Foundation at community events. 

Wish Consultants - Work behind-the-scenes to keep operations running at the Oregon chapter office. Administrative volunteers are asked to commit to a regular weekly shift. Duties may include mailings, computer work and other office projects, depending on skill set.

Language Interpreters/Translators – Some wish children and their families request assistance in their native language to understand the process of a wish.  We also need help in the office translating documents.  Our most common need is for Spanish-speaking volunteers.

To learn more about how to volunteer click here.

21. Volunteer: What kind of commitment is required?

Commitment levels vary, depending on your volunteer position. We make every effort as to match your availability and the level of commitment with the needs of your volunteer assignment. It is important work; and we expect a high level of commitment and professionalism from our volunteers. In return, the Make-A-Wish Foundation makes a commitment to our volunteers; we promise to provide quality training and the support and resources needed to do the work we entrust to them.

22. Volunteer: What type of trainings do volunteers receive?

All volunteers participate in a basic orientation session.  Wish granters require a day-long training on policies and procedures for working with families. Additional trainings are required for assigned volunteer opportunities and annual renewal of volunteer status.

23. Volunteer: Are volunteers very involved with the children?

Wish granting offers the highest level of involvement with wish children and their families. Wish granters meet a family at the beginning and end of a wish, but may rely on telephone contacts during the rest of the wish. Our emphasis is on delivering a one-of-a-kind wish experience, rather than on developing ongoing relationships with families or children.  Fundraising volunteers and wish consultants have limited or no contact with the families we serve.

24. Volunteer: Do you have volunteer positions that aren’t emotionally demanding?

Some people would like to help because they relate to our mission, but would prefer little or no direct involvement with the families. Fundraising volunteers and wish consultants are the most appropriate volunteer roles for this preference.  All our volunteer positions contribute equally to our mission, and bring joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions and their families.

25. Volunteer: Do I have to live in the Portland area?

No. In fact, some of our greatest volunteer needs are in other parts of our territory.  The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon serves the entire state of Oregon, as well as Clark County, Washington. In addition to the Portland area, we have volunteer needs in Vancouver, Central Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eugene/Corvallis, Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon and the Coast.

26. Volunteer: Why do you complete background checks?

Since we work so closely with children, the Make-A-Wish Foundation does a thorough resume check on all volunteer applicants. For applicants 18 years of age or older, we also perform a criminal background check. We are most concerned with any criminal history in regards to child abuse and/or fraud. All information received from these reports will remain confidential and be used only for screening and placement purposes.

27. Volunteer: Do you accept volunteers under 21 years old?

Although all wish granters must be 21 years old to work on wishes, a number of other volunteer opportunities exist (mostly for 18 and older, though there are exceptions), including helping at events and working in the Make-A-Wish office.

28. Volunteer: How do I apply?

To become a volunteer, submit the guidelines to become a volunteer before submitting the interest form.