Watchdog Watch

Following are summaries of recent reports by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. This private group reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The alliance does not approve or disapprove of charities, and urges potential donors to evaluate the importance of variations from the standards. It also notes that charities’ practices may change at any time. For charities that do not meet the standards, details are given only on those standards that are not met. Those organizations meet all other standards. Unless stated otherwise, the organizations are tax-exempt under Section (501)(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income-tax purposes. Copies of the full reports are available from the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Wise Giving Alliance, 4200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800, Arlington, Va. 22203; http://www.give.org.

American Cancer Aid Foundation, 1225 Franklin Avenue, Suite 325, Garden City, N.Y. 11530. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Cancer Aid Foundation meets its standards. As of July 2, the IRS reported that it had “no record that the organization is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code by virtue of an approved application.”

Bible League, P.O. Box 28000, Chicago, Ill. 60628; http://www.bibleleague.org. Meets all standards.

Children’s Wish Foundation International, 8615 Roswell Road, Atlanta, Ga. 30350-1822; http://www.childrenswish.org. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Children’s Wish Foundation International meets its standards.

Citizens Against Government Waste, 1301 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.cagw.org. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Citizens Against Government Waste meets its standards.

Common Cause, 1250 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.commoncause.org. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Common Cause meets its standards.

Defenders of Wildlife, 1101 14th Street, N.W., Suite 1400, Washington, D.C. 20005; http://www.defenders.org. Meets all standards.

Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation, 1206 Potomac Street, Washington, D.C. 20007; http://www.diabeteswellness.net. As of May 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation meets its standards.

Firefighters Foundation (also known as New York Firefighters Foundation), P.O. Box 10130, Bradenton, Fla. 34282. As of May 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Firefighters Foundation meets its standards. As of April 13, the IRS reported that it had “no record that the organization is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code by virtue of an approved application.”

Foundation for the Children’s Oncology Group, 440 East Huntington Drive, P.O. Box 60012, Arcadia, Calif. 91066-6012; http://www.conquerkidscancer.org. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the organization substantiate on request that solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, are accurate, truthful, and not misleading, both in whole and in part; and (2) that solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions identify at the point of solicitation the benefiting organization, a source from which written information is available, and the actual or anticipated portion of the sale or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information on its solicitation and informational materials. The alliance was unable to determine if the organization meets the standard calling for such materials, distributed by any means, to be accurate and truthful.

Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, 1 East 93rd Street, Suite 1C, New York, N.Y. 10128; http://www.ffeu.org. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the soliciting organization provide on request an annual report that includes information about its purposes, current activities, governance, finances, and tax-exempt status; (2) that it substantiate on request its application of funds, in accordance with donor expectations, to the programs and activities described in solicitations; (3) that it establish and exercise adequate controls over disbursements; (4) that it have an active governing body that, among other things, meets at least three times a year, with a majority of its members present on average; and (5) that it have an independent governing body whose directly and/or indirectly compensated board members constitute no more than one-fifth of the total voting membership of the board.

Gorilla Foundation, 1733 Woodside Road, Suite 330, Redwood City, Calif. 94061; http://www.koko.org. As of May 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Gorilla Foundation meets its standards.