Updated: March 2026

One Simple Wish is a 501c3 NJ-based nonprofit organization that works with a network of thousands of Community Partner agencies throughout the United States to spread love, hope, and joy to kids and young adults who have been impacted by trauma, crisis, and foster care. Among other programs, we operate this online wish platform to enable donors to grant a wish submitted to our Community Partners by a child, advocate, or young adult that the partner is currently providing services to.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

We encourage Wish Granters, Donors, Community Partners and visitors to check this page frequently for updates as we reserve the right to make policy changes as needed. If you have any questions or concerns about these terms and conditions, please email us using the Contact Us form.

WISH VALUES

One Simple Wish values and approves each wish submitted to our website. The value includes the original price of the item, credit card fee, sales tax and shipping charges (when applicable), and a program fee to allow us to sustain operations. The program fee typically does not exceed 10% of the cost of the wish.

One Simple Wish makes every effort to provide the donor with the most accurate wish value available at the time the wish is posted. If the item is found at a lower value, the donor understands that any additional funds will be deposited into an account for One Simple Wish to use towards our programming. If the wish was undervalued, One Simple Wish uses program-restricted funds to cover the cost of these items or, if necessary, unrestricted funding.

All funds received by One Simple Wish are used 100% towards furthering the organization's mission and at no time shall be accepted as profit, in accordance with non-profit organization status.

DONORS (Wish Granters)

Donors may browse and grant wishes on our website with or without registering. Whether or not a donor is registered, donors will receive a confirmation of their donation via email from both One Simple Wish and PayPal, which is our merchant service provider.

By registering, you agree to receive email communications from One Simple Wish relating to our programs. You may opt out at any time by following the link in our emails. You may not opt out of transactional emails like donation confirmations or wish updates.

By registering with One Simple Wish, potential donors are not entering any contract.

Donations made directly to a wish will be used to fulfill that specific item. One Simple Wish will make every reasonable effort to arrange for the service or experience to take place between the donor and the Community Partner. However, if it becomes too difficult to make this arrangement or more than 30 days pass without any progress, One Simple Wish reserves the right to make alternative arrangements to ensure that the service or experience is provided or to apply funds to a new wish. One Simple Wish will make every effort to select an alternative wish with criteria as close to the original wish as possible.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS (Wish Makers)

Wishes are collected through Third Party Partners known as Community Partners. These Community Partners must be recognized and registered nonprofit organizations. They must apply to become a member of our network of Community Partners and fulfill all requirements in the application. All applications are reviewed by One Simple Wish, and Community Partners are not eligible to make wishes on behalf of individuals until their applications are approved.

Community Partners understand that by making wishes on behalf of individuals, they are certifying that this individual is in need and that they maintain all responsibility if the individual is fraudulent in any manner. They also certify that they will communicate relevant wish information to the recipient, acting as the liaison between One Simple Wish and the recipient. One Simple Wish kindly asks that only the Community Partner reach out to our team about wishes and that no direct recipients attempt to circumvent this process.

By joining the network of Community Partners, Community Partners recognize that they are entering into a relationship with One Simple Wish until their wishes have been granted. If they sever their relationship with One Simple Wish prior to all wishes being granted, any outstanding wishes will be removed from the website. Community Partner’s acknowledge that they are not entering into any other type of partnership, arrangement or agreement with One Simple Wish other than to make wishes on behalf of individuals and to have those wishes granted.

Community Partners agree to have their organization information displayed on One Simple Wish’s website and in printed materials, including but not limited to brochures, press releases and print advertisements. If at any time a Community Partner decides to sever their relationship with One Simple Wish, Community Partners understand that materials printed before the date the relationship ended may still be used and that those materials may include the Community Partner’s organization name and other information. Further, One Simple Wish reserves the right to communicate past affiliation with these organizations to the public.

Community Partners understand that One Simple Wish will contact them once a donor makes a request to fulfill a wish they have submitted. Community Partners agree to be available to arrange for the delivery of the wish during the Community Partner’s regular operating hours. One Simple Wish will make every effort to accommodate the schedule of the Community Partner but Community Partners are aware that fulfillment of certain wishes may need to occur on a weekend, in the evening or otherwise outside of the normal operating hours of the Community Partner and that they may need to be available at these times with advance notice.

Community Partners understand that One Simple Wish will make every effort to fulfill a wish within 45 days of the time that wish has been granted and covered by a donation for the full value of the wish. Similarly, Community Partners are expected to make every effort to distribute wishes to the recipient within 120 days of receiving the item. If, for any reason, the Community Partner cannot distribute a wish, they agree to notify One Simple Wish immediately to redirect the funds.

Community Partners acknowledge that they will not receive any direct funds from One Simple Wish, either as a direct wish recipient, beneficiary, or relative. This means that the Partner understands that they will not submit wishes for themself or any relative, friend, or dependent, even if that person is receiving support from the partner organization. Instead, the Partner will direct that individual to an outside agency/organization to submit the wish to One Simple Wish. Additionally, the organization representing the partner also acknowledges that their organization will not benefit directly from the wish program. If a Community Partner is seeking the sponsorship of an event or program, they must apply separately and not through the wishgranting platform.

While every effort will be made to do so, One Simple Wish makes no guarantee that all wishes made will be granted.

WISH POSTING GUIDELINES:

At One Simple Wish, our goal is to minimize limitations so that children and young adults can select the wish that will bring them the most hope, joy, and love. If you have a wish that may fall outside these guidelines, please contact us for discussion.

Wishes that will not be approved through the traditional wish program include:

• Bulk/generic wishes - Each wish must be unique and specifically requested by the young person
• Items that have already been purchased - OSW must purchase the wish after it is granted; if the item has already been paid for/purchased, it cannot be submitted, as reimbursements will not be provided.
• Cash - Wishes for Visa/Amex/Giftly Gift cards will not be accepted. Instead, please request fulfillment to a specific store that sells gift cards online.
• Payment to an individual - Wishes for checks made out to the child or child's family will not be accepted (checks will only be filled directly to a vendor).
• High-Value/Speciality Items - Select high-value/speciality items, including gaming consoles (PlayStations, Xboxes, Nintendo Switch 2), Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses, and/or Electric Bikes, will no longer be accepted through the traditional wish program. Effective 3/6/26, these items, along with any other items over $500, can only be considered through the Big Wish program. Please contact [email protected] for more information on that program.

Additionally, Community Partners are expected to provide as much information as possible when posting wishes. Wishes must be complete, explain mission alignment and why this wish is important, the wish must be clearly written, and submitted individually, one item per wish for a specific recipient. While wishes are NOT capped at one single wish per recipient, we do request that no more than three wishes per child are added at any given time.

Wishes will be shipped to the partner's address by default, unless alternate shipping information is provided in the private notes of the specific wish. For non-standard items such as lessons, tickets, or other services, please include the name and address for payment in the Wish Notes.

Thank you notes are a critical part of our Wish-Granting program. Community Partners are expected to send a thank-you note to the Wish Granter, either from themselves or from the child whose wish was granted. These notes can be uploaded directly to the website.

DIRECT WISH INTAKE

If you spent time in foster care and you would like to have a wish submitted on your behalf, please contact your current or former caseworker; or a local social service agency, church or nonprofit and ask them to become a Community Partner with One Simple Wish.

If you are having trouble connecting to a former caseworker or agency, please contact us and we will do our very best to connect you to a social service agency in your area. You can also visit www.findhelp.org for more resources.

It is important to note that One Simple Wish is not an emergency response organization, our staff are not trained social workers, and the wish-granting program is not structured to successfully address life-threatening or emergency needs. One Simple Wish does not have any government contracts or government funds to address the needs and each wish is individually reviewed, posted and fundraised for, prior to being able to release payment. If you need emergency support or feel that you are in distress, please reach out to a trained professional or call 988.

BIG WISHES

Select High Value/Speciality Items, as well as any items that exceed $500 can only be submitted through our Big Wish program. Please note that Big Wishes are not guaranteed to be accepted, and there are caps on both the number and value of Big Wishes One Simple Wish can accept, depending on the time of year and staff capacity.

Big Wishes must be submitted by a Community Partner and clearly outline both the impact of the wish and how it can be fulfilled by One Simple Wish if approved. Big Wishes will be reviewed weekly by the team. After review, a team member will contact the Community Partner. Partners/recipients may not move forward with purchasing or expecting their Big Wish until explicit approval is received by a One Simple Wish team member. No reimbursements will be provided if direct payments are made before, during, or after the Big Wish is being considered.

All Big Wish recipients agree to send a photo to be shared with the wish on social media. At the request of the Community Partner, One Simple Wish can obscure photos and/or use a pseudonym to protect the privacy of the wish recipient. Big Wish recipients also must provide a thank-you message and a second photo after the wish is granted.

To ensure this limited resource is available to as many recipients as possible, only submissions for those who have not had a Big Wish granted in the last five years will be considered (from the last granted date to the new date of submission). As a reminder, this resource is not guaranteed and not all Big Wishes will be approved.