Make-A-Wish

The endowment is held at the national level and functions as a pooled reserve backstop for the chapter network. Governance falls under the national board, which includes senior operators from U.S. Bank, Polen Capital, and Isos Capital Management. Make-A-Wish does not publicly disclose the size of its endowment or a separate investment committee roster, so the board itself appears to provide investment oversight alongside standard audit and finance committee responsibilities.

Yes. The foundation maintains a cryptocurrency donation portfolio that accepts Bitcoin and other major digital assets. Donated crypto is converted to fiat upon receipt rather than held on balance sheet, consistent with a liquidity-first treasury posture. The program is facilitated through standard third-party crypto donation processors.

Real estate serves an operational function rather than a return-seeking one. Holdings include the national headquarters in Phoenix, chapter-dedicated Wish Houses in Scottsdale, New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, and donated properties used for family experiences. The Make-A-Wish Real Estate Division in Greater Los Angeles networks with professionals from Morgan Stanley and Newmark to source and manage these mission-connected properties.

Each of the 58 U.S. chapters operates as an independent 501(c)(3) with its own balance sheet, fundraising apparatus, and wish-granting pipeline. The national office provides brand licensing, shared services, and endowment backstop support. Chapitres remit a portion of locally raised funds to the national entity, but the majority of wish costs are covered directly at the chapter level.

The foundation cites its own outcome research showing that 89% of doctors believe a wish helps relieve a family from traumatic stress, and roughly three-quarters of wish alumni report their wish was a turning point in their treatment. These figures are drawn from internal surveys and are shared publicly on the foundation’s website. Independent third-party medical validation of the data is not regularly published.

There is no public evidence that the endowment allocates to private equity, venture capital, or hedge funds. The foundation’s only disclosed non-traditional asset is the cryptocurrency donation portfolio, which is immediately liquidated. The lack of any named alternative-investment board advisors suggests the investment policy skews conservative and traditional.

Board members are recruited through a standard nonprofit governance process and reflect deep ties to media, banking, and institutional asset management. Reba Dominski brings structured finance and corporate social responsibility perspective from U.S. Bank. Stan Moss runs Polen Capital, a growth-focused public-equity manager. George Barrios and Michelle Wilson co-founded Isos Capital, a private investment firm with a focus on sports, media, and entertainment, while Scooter Braun connects the foundation to cultural and celebrity-driven fundraising channels.