Watchdog Watch

Following are summaries of recent reports by the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Philanthropic Advisory Service.

The service reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The service cautions that it does not approve or disapprove of charities, and it urges potential donors to evaluate the importance of variations from the standards. The service also notes that charities’ practices may change at any time.

In the list of organizations that do not meet the standards, information is given only on standards that are not met. Those organizations meet all the other standards.

Copies of the full reports are available from the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Philanthropic Advisory Service, 4200 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va.; World-Wide Web http://www.bb.org.

American Auditory Society, 512 East Canterbury Lane, Phoenix 85022. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the organization provide on request an annual report in the form of a single document that presents information about the organization’s purposes, programs and activities, governing body, finances, and eligibility to receive deductible contributions; (2) that the organization provide on request complete annual financial statements that are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and reporting practices; (3) that the organization’s financial statements include a clear and functional breakdown of expenses in the categories of program services, fund raising, and management and general; and (4) that the organization have an active governing body that meets at least three times annually.

American Institute for Cancer Research, 1759 R Street, N.W., Washington 20009. Meets all standards.

Defenders of Wildlife, 1101 14th Street, N.W., Suite 1400, Washington 20005-5605. Does not meet the standard calling for solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admission to identify the actual or anticipated portion of the sales or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause. Defenders of Wildlife had entered into a cause-related marketing agreement with a long-distance telephone carrier, but a promotional mailing did not specify the actual or anticipated portion of call charges that would benefit the organization. Defenders of Wildlife responded that because of a confidentiality clause in its contract, it was unable to disclose the amount; the organization informed the bureau that it would seek to comply with the standard before entering into future cause-related marketing agreements.

Earth Communications Office, 12021 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 557, Los Angeles 90025. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the organization provide on request complete annual financial statements; and (2) that solicitations made in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admission identify at the point of solicitation a source from which written information is available, and the actual or anticipated portion of the sales or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause.

Father Flanagan’s Boys Home (Boys Town), 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, Neb. 68010. Meets all standards.

International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, 28 East Jackson, Suite 1900, Chicago 60604. As of September 30, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if I.F.C.J. meets its 23 standards.

Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, 400 West Service Road, P.O. Box 16129, Washington 20041-6129. As of September 27, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if L.E.L.D.F. meets its 23 standards.

Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Headquarters, 3300 East Sunrise Drive, Tucson, Ariz. 85718-3208. Meets all standards.

National Childhood Cancer Foundation, 440 East Huntington Drive, Suite 300, P.O. Box 60012, Arcadia, Cal. 91066-6012. Does not meet the standard calling for solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, to be accurate, truthful, and not misleading, both in whole and in part. A direct-mail appeal, with an enclosed letter dated March 11, 1996, told the story of Emily, a 4-year-old girl fighting cancer; N.C.C.F.’s March 1996 newsletter reported that Emily, 7 years old, had overcome her cancer. N.C.C.F. responded to the bureau by stating that it felt it was obvious to readers of the appeal that the organization was not raising money for Emily specifically, but for children with cancer.

National Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore 21230. Meets all standards.

National Mental Health Association, 1021 Prince Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the organization provide on request an annual report that presents, among other things, total expenses, total income, ending net assets, total liabilities, total assets for the previous fiscal year, and eligibility to receive deductible contributions; and (2) that solicitations made in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admission identify the actual or anticipated portion of the sales or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause.

The Nature Conservancy, 1815 North Lynn Street, Arlington, Va. 22209. Meets all standards.