The Wish Project

What it reported doing in 2024

Wishes - clients can attain a referral for wishes through one of our partnered agencies. Agencies pay a membership fee to refer clients to our warehouse for household goods and baby gear. Household goods can include items such as a household kit (dishes, glasses, utensils, pots, pans, bakeware), coffee makers, toasters, electric fryers, lamps, bedding, microwaves, air conditioners, and heaters. Baby gear can include a new car seat & stroller combo, new baby bottles, a safety gate, new baby-proofing items, a bassinet or pack-n-play, a breast pump, and much more. Clients can also place a request for a newborn basket, which is provided to moms one month before or after their due date. Clients can also place a wish for a birthday bag if their child turns age 1 through 17. A birthday bag contains all the necessary items to throw a child a party, such as disposable plates, cups, party favors, party banners, tablecloths, candles, cake mix, frosting, and birthday gifts.projects - aside from wishes, agency membership also includes projects. The wish project has four projects that occur throughout the fiscal year. The first project, called backpack attack, typically runs from july to august. Based on their membership level, agency partners receive an allocated amount of new backpacks with school supplies for their clients. Each backpack has a value of $60. The second project, holiday magic, typically runs from october to december. With this project, agency partners can submit an allocated amount of families to receive holiday gifts. The total value of items provided for each child is $75 and $25 for adults. The third project, mother's day bags, typically runs from march to april. The bags have a value of $50. Our final project, called bits bags, runs year-round. Bits is short for basic items for toddler success, valued at $35. Agency partners are also able to receive "extras." this occurs when all the required amounts for each agency are fulfilled, and we have items remaining. Walks-ins - any person in need can come to our warehouse once every 3 months. They can pick out clothes and shoes for each of their family members. While they shop, volunteers can provide cuddle bundles, made by our fairy godmother, to any young children shopping with their parents. Clients are also able to receive diapers, hygiene supplies and wipes for their children. Additionally, clients receive new underwear and socks once a year. Clients also have the option to take free items from the shelves in the waiting area. Textile recycling - not all the donations received at our warehouse are in good condition, in season or suitable for our clients. Anything stained, ripped, roughly worn, or out of season (that is not new) is recycled. These items are bagged and put aside for the epilepsy foundation / savers, which pays us per pound of material received.thrift - we operate a thrift store where community members can purchase new or barely used items at a steep discount. These are items that would not otherwise be suitable for clients looking for basic necessities.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 91.2%; rating input score 91
• Program expense ratio: 94.7%; rating input score 95
• Fundraising efficiency: $115.42 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 3.8%; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.32; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2.6%; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.6% per year; rating input score 100; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 9.8% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 18.4% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings