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.

In March 2003, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance revised its standards (The Chronicle, March 20). Some of the reports summarized below were produced under the new standards, while others were based on the old standards.

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.

Alternative Gifts International, PO. Box 3810, Wichita, Kan. 67201-3810; http://www.altgifts.org. Meets all standards.

Childhood Leukemia Foundation, 1608 Route 88 West, Suite 203, Brick, N.J. 08274; http://www.clf4kids.com. As of July 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Childhood Leukemia Foundation meets the standards.

Hospice Education Institute, 3 Unity Square, P.O. Box 98, Machiasport, Me. 04655-0098; http://www.hospiceworld.org. As of May 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Hospice Education Institute meets the standards.

National Mental Health Association, 2001 North Beauregard Street, 12th Floor, Alexandria, Va. 22311; http://www.nmha.org. Meets all standards.

Save the Redwoods League, 114 Sansome Street, Room 1200, San Francisco, Calif. 94104; http://www.savetheredwoods.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to include in its financial statement a breakdown of expenses (such as salaries, travel, and postage) that shows what portion of those expenses is dedicated to program, fund-raising, and administrative activities; and to have an accessible annual report that includes a roster of officers and members of the board of directors.

Women for Women International, 1850 M Street, N.W., Suite 1090, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.womenforwomen.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to have no more than one compensated person, or 10 percent of the board, whichever is greater, serving as a voting member of the board, and for compensated members not to serve as the boards chair or treasurer.