Note: 1. Deferred revenue: Ci adjusted for deferred revenue within donations, which was ($22k) in F2024, ($12k) in F2023, and ($948k) in F2023. 2. Unrealized gains: Ci included unrealized gains and losses within investment income. This was $2.8m in F2024, ($261k) in F2023, and $5.6m in F2022. 3. Donated Goods: Ci removed donated goods from fundraising and administrative costs, putting the amounts in other costs. 4. Amortization: Ci removed amortization from program, administration, and fundraising costs on a pro-rata basis. Amortization was $577in F2024, $244k in F2023, and $231k in F2022.

Comment uploaded on August 21, 2025:

Cents to Cause

In Make-A-Wish Canada’s fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024), for every $1 spent, 72 cents was directed to wish delivery and administration for services to children and families in Canada, and 28 cents went to fundraising to ensure that our programs run efficiently and effectively.

We respect Charity Intelligence’s choice to recast financial information to compare different organizations, and we applaud their efforts to hold all charities accountable to donors, partners, and program participants. Make-A-Wish Canada is professionally audited annually by Doane Grant Thornton LLP, and our fully audited statements are available at makeawish.ca.

Our funding comes from a variety of sources, including individual donors, corporate partners, grants, and other institutional supporters. However, Charity Intelligence selectively recognizes revenue sources. Make-A-Wish Canada receives significant funding that is excluded from their calculations, such as gifts from international corporate partners (including Disney) and substantial in-kind support (such as flights from WestJet and travel insurance from Blue Cross). These contributions are recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency and are essential to our operating model. Charity Intelligence does not include this revenue in its analysis due to its standard methodology. If this funding were recognized, it would significantly reduce the fundraising costs reported by Charity Intelligence and increase cents to the cause — a more accurate reflection of our operating model.

Make-A-Wish Canada complies with all regulatory requirements, including those laid out by the Canada Revenue Agency. We have also submitted our application for the Imagine Canada Accreditation Program, and we are in the process of earning our Imagine Canada Accreditation Trustmark, so you can feel confident knowing your donations are being used responsibly.

The Impact of a Wish

Thanks to our supporters, in 2024 we granted 2,011 wishes — a 45% increase from the previous year — across 745 communities nationwide. Despite this record-breaking growth, more than 3,700 children are still waiting for their wish.

Wishes Are Medicine

Wishes aren’t simply “nice to have.” They are a proven complement to medical treatment that help children with critical illnesses build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight. Independent research shows that:

• 100% of medical providers say a wish is a turning point in a child’s treatment.
• Patients granted a wish are 2.5 times less likely to have an unplanned hospital visit.
• Patients granted a wish are 1.9 times less likely to use the emergency department.
• 98% of medical providers report that wishes improve physical well-being.
• 95% of medical providers observed that wishes give children the strength to fight their illness.

This research demonstrates that wishes improve health outcomes, treatment compliance, and overall quality of life for children.

Transparency and Accountability

Transparency and accountability are core values at Make-A-Wish Canada. If you are here, these values are important to you, too. We encourage donors to research and be informed about where their donations are spent. Please visit us online at makeawish.ca and read our to see how we delivered results for children last year.