Wish-granting organizations for children and adults facing a terminal illness

If you only had a short time left to live, what would your greatest wish be? How would you fulfill this wish?

For those facing the shock of a chronic or terminal illness diagnosis, these can be some of the most urgent questions. If you or a loved one find yourselves navigating this reality, know that there are coping strategies and mechanisms available to help set goals, define quality of life values, and make end-of-life wishes come true.

Beyond their personal significance, wishes and dreams can renew hope, strength, and belief in the impossible for individuals with a critical illness. Furthermore, there are a number of wish-granting organizations tied to the end-of-life space that provide the opportunity for children and adults to see these dreams and wishes realized.

The mission of these organizations is to bring happiness, increase quality of life, and create lasting memories for the grantee and their family. Some wishes they cater to include visiting a dream destination, meeting a role model, enjoying a special event, receiving a special item, and more.

Below is a list of some of the largest wish-granting organizations for both children and adults, and information about their eligibility criteria. It is important to note that each organization has its own eligibility rules and wish limitations.

Wish-granting organizations for children 

Make-A-Wish Foundation

Founded in 1980, Make-A-Wish’s vision is to grant the wish of every child diagnosed with a critical illness. Make-A-Wish worldwide has collectively granted nearly 480,000 wishes, making them the world’s largest wish-granting organization. Make-A-Wish believes that the dreams and wishes they grant provide the children and families with strength, hope, transformation and community. 

• Eligibility:

  • The child has been diagnosed with a critical illness, i.e., a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that is placing the child's life in jeopardy

  • The child must be referred and must be 2.5 to under 18 years old at the time of referral

  • The child hasn’t received a wish from another grant-wishing organization

The Dream Factory

Founded in 1980, The Dream Factory provides hope and relief from the trauma and corresponding stress and depression that both children and their families experience coping with a chronic or terminal illness. The Dream Factory is the largest all-volunteer children's with-granting organization. 

• Eligibility:

  • The child’s critical or chronic illness must be documented and affirmed by a treating physician

  • The child must be referred and 3 to 18 years old

  • The child must be able to communicate his or her dream to a volunteer screening representative of The Dream Factory

  • The child hasn’t received a wish from another grant-wishing organization

 A Special Wish Foundation

Founded in 1982, A Special Wish Foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for children with a life-threatening disorder by granting their special wish. A Special Wish Foundation is the only large organization that grants wishes to infants, children, and adolescents. 

• Eligibility:

  • The child must have a life-threatening disorder

  • The child must be between the ages of birth up through and including age 20

  • The child hasn’t received a wish from another grant-wishing organization

Here are links to additional national wish-granting organizations for children with chronic illness.  

Wish-granting organizations for adults

Dream Foundation

Founded in 1994, Dream Foundation focuses on improving quality of life for adults experiencing end-of-life care and their families. Dream Foundation has granted more than 32,000 dreams since inception. Dream Foundation’s Dreams for Veterans program customizes the wish-granting experience to veterans and their families. 

• Eligibility:

  • The adult must have a life limiting illness with a life expectancy of 12 months or less

  • The adult must lack the resources to fulfill the Dream themselves

  • The adult must live in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, be 18 and older, or be a U.S. military veteran 18 and older 

  • The adult or a loved one must complete the application

Stella’s Wish Foundation 

In 2008, after receiving a wish of her own, Stella’s new wish was to create an organization to pay it forward to adults with life-threatening Stage 4 cancers. In 2009, Stella’s Wish Foundation granted its first wish. 

• Eligibility:

  • The adult must have life-threatening Stage 4 cancer

  • The adult or a loved one must complete an application

— Lesley Hellow