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 organizations that do not meet the standards, information is given only on those standards that are not met. Those organizations meet all the 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, Arlington, Va. 22203; http://www.give.org.

Association for Disabled Firefighters, 1110 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, Calif., 92701. As of March 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Association for Disabled Firefighters meets the standards.

Bread for the World Institute, 50 F Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C., 20001; http://www.bread.org. Does not meet the standards that call for the soliciting organization’s financial statements to present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, including expenses reported in categories corresponding to the descriptions of major programs and activities contained in informational materials, and a detailed schedule of expenses by natural classification, presenting the natural expenses incurred for each major program and supporting activity; and for solicitations to include a clear description of the programs and activities for which funds are requested.

Children’s Wish Foundation International, 8615 Roswell Road, Atlanta, Ga., 30358; http://www.childrenswish.org. As of March 2003, 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 the standards.

Experience Works, formerly known as Green Thumb, 2000 North 14th Street, Suite 800, Arlington, Va., 22201; http://www.experienceworks.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 the soliciting organization’s financial statements present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, including a detailed schedule of expenses by natural classification, presenting the natural expenses incurred for each major program and supporting activity; (3) that the soliciting organization substantiate on request its application of funds, in accordance with donor expectations, to the programs and activities described in solicitations; and (4) that the organization have an independent governing body whose compensated members constitute no more than 20 percent of the total voting membership. As of March 2003, the organization had not provided complete information about its governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Experience Works meets one additional standard.

Food for the Hungry, 7729 East Greenway Road, Scottsdale, Ariz., 85260; http://www.fh.org. Meets all standards.

Global Impact, formerly known as International Service Agencies, 66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 310, Alexandria, Va., 22314; http://www.charity.org. Meets all standards.

Jane Goodall Institute for Wild-life Research, Education, and Conservation, 8700 Georgia Avenue, Suite 500, Silver Spring, Md., 20910; http://www.janegoodall.org. Meets all stan-dards.

Life Outreach International Association of Churches, P.O. Box 982000, Fort Worth, Tex., 76182; http://www.lifetoday.org. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization’s financial statements to present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, including a detailed schedule of expenses by natural classification, presenting the natural expenses incurred for each major program and supporting activity, and an accurate presentation of all fund-raising and administrative costs. Furthermore, the alliance is unable to determine if Life Outreach International Association of Churches meets two additional standards.

National Transplant Assistance Fund, 3475 West Chester Pike, Suite 230, Newton Square, Pa., 19073; http://www.transplantfund.org. Meets all standards.

Partnership for Caring, 1620 I Street N.W., Suite 202, Washington, D.C., 20006; http://www.partnershipforcaring.org. As of April 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Partnership for Caring meets the standards.

Regular American Veterans, also known as American War Veterans, 1309 Harrison Lane, Austin, Tex., 78742; http:// www.onr.com/user/rav/ravhome.htm. As of March 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Regular American Veterans meets the standards.

Southwest Indian Foundation, P.O. Box 86, 100 West Coal Avenue, Gallup, N.M., 87305; http://www.southwestindian.com. As of March 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Southwest Indian Foundation meets the standards. U.S. Seaport Commission, P.O. Box 921, Frederick, Md., 21705. As of March 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if U.S. Seaport Commission meets the standards.