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. 22203; http://www.bbb.org.

American Breast Cancer Foundation, 798 Kenilworth Drive, Suite 210, Towson, Md. 21204; http://www.abcf.org. As of August 30, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if ABCF meets its 23 standards.

American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens (formerly American Federation of Police), 3801 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami 33139. As of August 30, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if AFPCC meets its 23 standards.

AMVETS National Service Foundation, 4647 Forbes Boulevard, Lanham, Md. 20706-4380; http://www.amvets.org. As of August 30, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if AMVETS National Service Foundation meets its 23 standards.

Cheer Foundation, 603 West 13th Street, Suite 1A, Austin, Tex. 78701-1796, or 90-18 153rd Avenue, Howard Beach, N.Y. 11414; http://www.cheer.org. As of July 26, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if Cheer Foundation meets its 23 standards.

Give Kids the World Foundation, 210 South Bass Road, Kissimmee, Fla. 34746; http://www.gktw.org. Does not meet the standard calling for solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions to identify at the point of solicitation a) the benefiting organization, b) a source from which written information is available, and c) the actual or anticipated portion of the sales or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause.

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, 371 East Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, N.Y. 11787-2976; http://www.guidedog.org. Meets all standards.

Kids for a Clean Environment, 2804 Foster Avenue, Nashville 37210. As of September 23, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if Kids FACE meets its 23 standards.

Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, 715 Broadway Street, P.O. Box 1947, Quantico, Va. 22134; http://www.toysfortots.org. Meets all standards.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 511 East John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 700, Irving, Tex. 75062-8187; http://www.madd.org. Meets all standards.

Muscular Dystrophy Association, 3300 East Sunrise Drive, Tucson, Ariz. 85718; http://www.mdausa.org. Meets all standards.

National Cancer Center, 88 Sunnyside Boulevard, Plainview, N.Y. 11803. As of August 25, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if the NCC meets its 23 standards.

National Childhood Cancer Foundation, 440 East Huntington Drive, Suite 300, P.O. Box 60012, Arcadia, Cal. 91066-6012; http://www.nccf.org. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to have an active governing body that meets formally at least three times annually, with meetings spaced over the course of a year.

National Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore 21230; http://www.nfb.org. Meets all standards.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 605 E Street, N.W., Washington 20004; http://www.nleomf.com. As of August 25, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if NLEOMF meets its 23 standards.

9 to 5, Working Women Education Fund, 231 West Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 900, Milwaukee 53203. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to provide on request an annual report that presents information on the organization’s ending net assets, or the standard calling for the soliciting organization’s financial statements to present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, including — but not limited to — a detailed schedule of expenses by natural classification (e.g., salaries, employee benefits, occupancy, postage, etc.), presenting the natural expenses incurred for each major program and supporting activity.

Operation USA (also known as Operation California), 8320 Melrose Avenue, Suite 200, Los Angeles 90069; http://www.opusa.org. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to have an active governing body that, among other things, meets three times annually, with meetings spaced evenly over the course of a year.

People to People International, 501 East Armour Boulevard, Kansas City, Mo. 64109-2200; http://www.ptpi.org. Does not meet the standard calling for solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions to identify at the point of solicitation a) the benefiting organization, b) a source from which written information is available, and c) the actual or anticipated portion of the sales or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause. The bureau notes it is unable to verify another standard on governance.

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, 5100 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 404, Washington 20016; http://www.pcrm.org. Meets all standards.

Prison Fellowship Ministries, P.O. Box 17500, Washington 20041-0500; http://www.prisonfellowship.org. Meets all standards.

The Retired Enlisted Association, 1111 South Abilene Court, Aurora, Colo. 80012-4909; http://www.trea.org. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the soliciting organization’s financial statements present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, including — but not limited to — a detailed schedule of expenses by natural classification (e.g., salaries, employee benefits, occupancy, postage, etc.), presenting the natural expenses incurred for each major program and supporting activity; (2) that a reasonable percentage, at least 50 per cent, of total income from all sources be applied to programs and activities directly related to the purposes for which the organization exists; (3) that a reasonable percentage, at least 50 per cent, of public contributions be applied to the programs and activities described in solicitations, in accordance with donor expectations; (4) that fund-raising costs be reasonable, not to exceed 35 per cent of related contributions; (5) that total fund-raising and administrative costs be reasonable, not to exceed 50 per cent of total income; and (6) that solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions identify at the point of solicitation a) the benefiting organization, b) a source from which written information is available, and c) the actual or anticipated portion of the sales or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause.

Ryan White Foundation, 8900 Keystone Crossing, Suite 800, Indianapolis 46240. As of August 3, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if the Ryan White Foundation meets its 23 standards.