Frequently Asked Questions

At Make-A-Wish Canada, we believe in hope and innovation. Our eligibility criteria are reflective of the latest therapeutic advances and are reviewed regularly in partnership with our medical advisory committee to ensure we adapt to the ever-changing landscape of healthcare science. While our current guidelines are specific, they are not static, and may evolve over time as new treatments become available.

Children must meet these criteria to be eligible for a wish:

• The child is biologically between the ages of 3 and 17
• The child has a critical illness that is currently in the life-threatening stage
• The child has not received a prior wish from any wish-granting organization

The following high-risk, life-threatening principles are used to determine medical eligibility for a wish:

• Children whose current medical condition requires high-risk therapy to survive may qualify for a wish.
• Children who are dependent on technology to survive may qualify for a wish.
• Children with chronic conditions who demonstrate extreme long-term complications may qualify for a wish.
• Children at high risk of death not covered by other criteria on this list may qualify for a wish.

While we strive to reach as many eligible children as possible in Canada, it’s important to note that conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder/ADHD, speech/language delays, learning disabilities, psychiatric/mental health disorders, diabetes, asthma and global developmental delay, though serious, on their own may not fall within our wish granting criteria. We appreciate your understanding and continued support.

We accept referrals from the child, child’s parent or legal guardian, or a member of the child’s medical team. Referrals can be submitted on our websiteOpens in new tab or by calling 1-888-822-9474.

A child’s medical condition does not need to be terminal to be eligible for a wish. In fact, this is one of the enduring myths about Make-A-Wish. Thanks to research and new medical treatments, this is no longer the case for many children we serve. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. This can improve their quality of life and produce better health outcomes.

Once approved, we contact the child’s family, and the wish team then works closely with the family and the child to guide them through the wish process and discover the child’s unique wish.

A child can wish for many things. Wishes typically fit into one of these five categories:

1. I wish to go
2. I wish to have
3. I wish to be
4. I wish to meet
5. I wish to give

Because every wish is unique, there’s no set time frame. The length of time it takes to fulfill a wish varies on the personal situation and flexibility of the child’s family. It also depends on the nature and scope of the wish.

Make-A-Wish Canada granted 2,011 wishes last year. That is a 44.8% increase over the previous year. Since our founding in 1983, we have granted more than 39,000 wishes to Canadian children.

Direct Marketing is a great way to reach out to people in communities across Canada. We work with Inspire Direct Marketing, who conduct our direct marketing campaigns on our behalf. Through direct marketing, we can enrich relationships with our existing donors and raise funds that enable us to continue the important work we do to provide hope to children with critical illnesses by granting even more wishes.

Make-A-Wish Canada does not participate in door-to-door fundraising to support the granting of wishes. As of January 2023, Make-A-Wish Canada does engage in telemarketing through our partnership with Inspire Direct Marketing. (See telemarketing FAQ below for more details).

You can reach out to our Donor Care team who will confirm our partnership with Inspire Direct Marketing and will be happy to address all your questions and concerns.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1-888-822-9474