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MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION UK

Registered charity 295672 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as MAKE-A-WISH, MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION · also registered in Scotland as SC037479 (OSCR)

Make-A-Wish grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses. Our wishes are truly magical. Whether a wish is to be a princess for the day, own the latest computer equipment, meet a favourite celebrity, or enjoy some special time away from home with their family, a wish come true brings so much to a child's life and provides memories that last a lifetime.

Causes: The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£11.9m
Latest spending
£13.0m
Registered
1986
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £871,596 for the year, resulting in total reserves falling to £3.9 million. The trustees note that current free reserves are below the recommended levels of their new risk-based policy, though they remain above the minimum target of three months' operating costs. The filing confirms the charity is a going concern with sufficient reserves to adapt if necessary.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Fundraising cost ratio: 46.0% of fundraised income, as disclosed
“We invested £5.3m (2023/24: £6.1m) in raising this income”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Gift Aid payment from subsidiary Make-A-Wish Promotions Limited.
“During the year, a gift of £384,401(2023/24 £250,000) was received from Make-A-Wish Promotions Limited.” — page 54
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by HaysMac LLP. Discloses 3 of 6 completeness components.

In the news

Recent coverage mentioning this charity by name (automated match; headlines belong to their publishers).

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Make-A-Wish Foundation UK (matched by registered charity number).

Property (HM Land Registry)

1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2025)

Total income
£11.9m
Total spending
£13.0m
Cost of raising funds
£5.2m
Reserves (reported)
£3.8m
Employees
90

Reported reserves equal ~3.5 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 43.5% of total income — above the 90th percentile for charities its size (median 3.8%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/08/2025£11.9m£13.0m
31/08/2024£12.2m£12.4m
31/08/2023£11.4m£12.2m
31/08/2022£10.7m£11.2m
31/08/2021£5.1m£5.2m

Common questions

Is MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION UK financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £871,596 for the year, resulting in total reserves falling to £3.9 million. The trustees note that current free reserves are below the recommended levels of their new risk-based policy, though they remain above the minimum target of three months' operating costs. The filing confirms the charity is a going concern with sufficient reserves to adapt if necessary. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by HaysMac LLP.

Who funds MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION UK?

Funders whose own accounts filings name MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION UK as a grant recipient include THE KENTOWN WIZARD FOUNDATION, THE HINDUJA FOUNDATION, HOLLYHOCK CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE MANOUKIAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, The Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson Foundation.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE KENTOWN WIZARD FOUNDATIONFY2022£6.8mA Disney Wish 2021 event
THE KENTOWN WIZARD FOUNDATIONFY2023£872kDisneyland Paris wishes and 'Disney Magic' experience in central UK
THE KENTOWN WIZARD FOUNDATIONFY2025£520kGrant to deliver Disneyland Paris wishes to 200 children and their families.
THE HINDUJA FOUNDATIONFY2024£273kThe relief of poverty, hunger and sickness
HOLLYHOCK CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2024£199k
THE KENTOWN WIZARD FOUNDATIONFY2024£161kFund backlog of Disneyland Paris wishes and the first 'Group Wish'.
HOLLYHOCK CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2022£100k
HOLLYHOCK CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2023£100k
THE MANOUKIAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2022£77k
THE MANOUKIAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2021£74k
The Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson FoundationFY2026£40kMedical research
THE PENNIES FOUNDATIONFY2021£32kGrant to institution
PETER DUBENS FAMILY FOUNDATIONFY2021£30k
MOONDANCE FOUNDATIONFY2023£26k
THE SIR JOHN RITBLAT FAMILY FOUNDATIONFY2025£25k
THE HINDUJA FOUNDATIONFY2023£20kThe relief of poverty, hunger and sickness
THE IAN & NATALIE LIVINGSTONE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£20kto help grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illneses.
S P LOHIA FOUNDATIONFY2023£15kThe contribution was made towards the charity's mission to grant magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses.
THE ANNANDALE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£13k
THE RISMAN FOUNDATIONFY2022£12kHumanities
THE ANNANDALE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£11k
THE IAN & NATALIE LIVINGSTONE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£10kto grant children with critical illnesses their one true wish
REUBEN FOUNDATIONFY2022£10k
GRAFF FOUNDATIONFY2021£10k
THE LESLIE SMITH FOUNDATIONFY2025£10k
THE IAN & NATALIE LIVINGSTONE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£10k
REUBEN FOUNDATIONFY2023£8k
THE O'SULLIVAN FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£6k
THE PENNIES FOUNDATIONFY2022£6k
AFPA TRUSTFY2024£6kDonation from Big Quiz
THE ANNANDALE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£5k
GRAFF FOUNDATIONFY2024£5k
THE LESLIE SMITH FOUNDATIONFY2024£5k
GRAFF FOUNDATIONFY2025£5k
THE WOOSNAM FOUNDATIONFY2025£5kadvancement of research & education
THE CHRISTOPHER LAING FOUNDATIONFY2022£5k
THE SIR JOHN RITBLAT FAMILY FOUNDATIONFY2024£5k
THE ANNANDALE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£5k
GRAFF FOUNDATIONFY2022£3k
LORD BARNBY'S FOUNDATIONFY2025£3k
LORD BARNBY'S FOUNDATIONFY2024£3k
THE WILLIE AND MABEL MORRIS CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£3k
THE MARTIN LAING FOUNDATIONFY2022£3kSocial Welfare (via CAF)
CANTIACORUM FOUNDATIONFY2024£2k
CANTIACORUM FOUNDATIONFY2025£2k
GRAFF FOUNDATIONFY2023£2k
THE CHRISTOPHER LAING FOUNDATIONFY2023£2k
DRAGON CHRISTMAS CHARITY SALEFY2023£1kPupil Donations
THE CHANDRIS FOUNDATIONFY2024£1k
GOWLING WLG (UK) CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£1k

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
Postcode Lottery13/02/2025£300kSpecial Award 2025 Year 2 of 3
Postcode Lottery13/02/2025£10kWin Win with Postcode Lottery
Postcode Lottery01/12/2023£300kSpecial Award 2024 Year 1 of 3

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
THE WARWICKSHIRE MASONIC CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION LIMITED2£8k
THE IMP TRUST1£139k
GUMBALL 3000 FOUNDATION LTD1£100k
TOYOTA MANUFACTURING UK CHARITABLE TRUST1£86k
THE SHOE ZONE TRUST1£30k
THE OPENWORK FOUNDATION1£25k
THE RIGBY FOUNDATION1£15k
THE 29TH MAY 1961 CHARITY1£15k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE GENIES WISH CHARITY.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION UK£11.9m——unclear46.0%no doubt
THE GENIES WISH CHARITY FY2025£324k—0unclear—no doubt
WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR FY2025£1.1m—0unclear—no doubt
PURPLE HEART WISHES FY2025£114k—0unclear—no doubt
THE DREAM FACTORY FY2025£174k—0above—noted
WISHES 4 KIDS FY2025£249k—0above—no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.