11. Make-A-Wish NH • 814 Elm St., Suite 300, Manchester • nh.wish.org
Top Employee Engagement Survey Measures: In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work: 100% agree. My manager is interested in my well being: 100% agree
President and CEO: Julie Baron
Years in Business: 39
Full-time Employees: 9
Years on List: 1
For nearly four decades, Make-A-Wish NH has granted life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. Behind that magic is a culture of intention, inspiration, and deep employee care. With only nine full-time and three part-time staff members, the nonprofit punches far above its weight in impact, not just for families, but for its employees.
“It’s important to us that our staff feels as magical as the outside world perceives our mission,” says Julie Baron, Make-A-Wish NH president and CEO. “The work we do is emotional, meaningful, and sometimes intense. So, we’ve built a culture that celebrates, supports, and rejuvenates.”
From personalized wellness initiatives to text group chats filled with real time updates, jokes, and wins, Make-A-Wish NH fosters connection through constant communication. Weekly team huddles ensure staff feel heard and involved.
Generous benefits reflect the nonprofit’s commitment to equity and well-being. The nonprofit covers 100% of health insurance premiums for employee and family plans. Employees working just 24 hours per week receive fully paid medical and dental coverage for their entire family. The organization practices open-book management, publishing financials and inviting staff into the planning process.
Make-A-Wish also weaves wellness and creativity into the employee experience with massages, team sessions with a licensed psychologist, and retreats that feature shopping sprees, scavenger hunts, and time for reflection.
Recognition is a cornerstone of the culture, often personalized. “We’ve celebrated on billboards, with soup made from ingredients each person brought, and even with poems and gifts that reflect employees’ unique strengths,” Baron says. She even holds an annual retreat at her home.
In the spirit of the organization’s mission, last summer the Make-A-Wish team went to downtown Portsmouth with knapsacks full of giveaways, performing as many acts of kindness as possible and capturing the joy in photos along the way.
