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.

Copies of the full reports are available from the Wise Giving Alliance, 4200 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22203; http://give.org.

Center for Keratoconus, also known as Cars for Sight, 2360 Mendocino Avene, Suite A2-390, Santa Rosa, Calif. 95403; http://www.kcenter.org. As of September 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Center for Keratoconus meets the standards.

Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, P.O. Box 393, Hohenwald, Tenn. 38462; http://www.elephants.com. As of September 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald meets the standards.

National Sleep Foundation, 1522 K Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20005; http://www.sleepfoundation.org. As of September 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Sleep Foundation meets the standards.

Performing Animal Welfare Society, 11435 Simmerhorn Road, P.O. Box 849, Galt, Calif. 95632; http://www.pawsweb.org. As of September 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Performing Animal Welfare Society meets the standards.

StandUp for Kids, 1510 Front Street, Suite 100, San Diego, Calif. 92101; http://www.standupforkids.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; and 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. As of September 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances, programs, and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if StandUp for Kids meets five additional standards.