Make-A-Wish Foundation UK

Analysis

Make-A-Wish Foundation UK is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Berkshire. It was registered in December 1986, 40 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the advancement of health or saving of lives, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02031836). It says it provides services.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Make-A-Wish Foundation UK reported income of £11.9m and spending of £13.0m, spending 109% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £5.1m to £11.9m (+135%), an average of +24% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2022, when income rose by 110%. Over the whole period it spent 106% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Make-A-Wish Foundation UK sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include MCS Charitable Foundation (£11.9m), Frontline AIDS (£11.9m) and Institute of Our Lady of Mercy (£11.9m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 86%, trading 13% and investments 1.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.2m. Charitable activities took 60% of spending and raising funds 40%. Reserves of £3.8m would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 90 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.