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, 2003). 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 Wise Giving Alliance, 4200 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22203; http://www.give.org.

African Wildlife Foundation, 1400 16th Street, N.W., Suite 120, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.awf.org. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the African Wildlife Foundation meets the standards.

American Friends Foundation for Childbirth Injuries, 4030 Moorpark Avenue, San Jose, Calif. 95117; http://www.fistulahospital.org/foundation.htm. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Friends Foundation for Childbirth Injuries meets the standards.

American Lung Association, 61 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10016-2701; http://www.lungusa.org. Meets all standards.

American Red Magen David for Israel, 888 Seventh Avenue, Suite 403, New York, N.Y. 10106; http://www.armdi.org. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if American Red Magen David for Israel meets the standards.

Benny Hinn Ministries, P.O. Box 162000, Irving, Tex. 75016-2000; http://www.bennyhinn.org. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Benny Hinn Ministries meets the standards.

Center for Watershed Protection, 8390 Main Street, Second Floor, Ellicott City, Md. 21043; http://www.cwp.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to accurately report expenses in financial statements; and to have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Center for Watershed Protection meets two additional standards.

Coalition Against Breast Cancer, 1707-4 Veterans Memorial Highway, Islandia, N.Y. 11749. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Coalition Against Breast Cancer meets the standards.

Coalition of Police and Sheriffs, 1112 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, Calif. 92701. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Coalition of Police and Sheriffs meets the standards.

Concerned Women for America, 1015 15th Street, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, D.C. 20005; http://www.cwfa.org. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Concerned Women for America meets the standards.

Covenant House, 346 West 17th Street, New York, N.Y. 10011-5002; http://www.covenanthouse.org. Meets all standards.

Dream Factory, 1218 South Third Street, Louisville, Ky. 40203; http://www.dreamfactoryinc.com. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Dream Factory meets two of the standards. The Dream Factory meets all other standards.

Ducks Unlimited, One Waterfowl Way, Memphis, Tenn. 38120-2351; http://www.ducks.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer’s purchase or business transaction.

International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2600, Chicago, Ill. 60602-3356; http://www.ifcj.org. Meets all standards.

JBI International, also known as Jewish Braille Institute of America, 110 East 30th Street, New York, N.Y. 10016; http://www.jbilibrary.org. Meets all standards.

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

Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 6350 North Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33309; http://www.msfocus.org. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation meets the standards.

NAACP, also known as tbe National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 4805 Mount Hope Drive, Baltimore, Md. 21215-3297; http://www.naacp.org. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if NAACP meets the standards.

Teen Mania Ministries, P.O. Box 2000, Garden Valley, Tex. 75771. As of February 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Teen Mania Ministries meets the standards.

Toy Industry Foundation, formerly known as American Toy Institute, 1115 Broadway, Suite 400, New York, N.Y. 10010. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to have an accessible annual report that includes a mission statement; program accomplishments; a roster of officers and members of the board of directors; and financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses.

Veterans Assistance Foundation, P.O. Box 109, Newburg, Wis. 53060; http://www.veteransassistance.org. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Veterans Assistance Foundation meets the standards.

WeTip, also known as WeTip Arson, P.O. Box 1296, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. 91729-1296; http://www.wetip.com. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) 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 board’s chair or treasurer; (2) 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; (3) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; and (4) have an accessible annual report that includes financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances and fund raising. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if WeTip meets four additional standards.