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.

Boy Scouts of America, also known as the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, Irving, Tex. 75038; http://www.scouting.org. Meets all standards.

Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, 1120 20th Street, N.W., Suite 750 South, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.clb.org. As of January 2008, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind meets the standards.

Communities in Schools, 277 South Washington Street, Suite 210, Alexandria, Va. 22314; http://www.cisnet.org. As of February 2008, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Communities in Schools meets the standards.

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, 1140 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.pedaids.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board policy for assessing, at least every two years, the organization’s performance and effectiveness and for determining actions to achieve its mission; (2) submit to its governing body for approval a written report outlining the results of a performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions; (3) take action to ensure that privacy concerns of donors are respected in the collection, dissemination, and securing of personal information, and allow donors opportunities to have their names removed from solicitation lists; and (4) 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 January 2008, the organization had not provided complete information about its solicitation materials. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation meets one additional standard.

Food Animal Concerns Trust, 411 West Fullerton Parkway, Suite 1402W, Chicago, Ill. 60614; http://www.foodanimalconcernstrust.org. Meets all standards.

Gifts in Kind International, 333 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314; http://www.giftsinkind.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.

Habitat for Humanity International, 121 Habitat Street, Americus, Ga. 31709; http://www.habitat.org. Meets all standards.

Hope Worldwide, 353 West Lancaster Avenue, Suite 200, Wayne, Pa. 19087; http://www.hopeww.org. 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; (2) have a board policy for assessing, at least every two years, the organization’s performance and effectiveness and for determining actions to achieve its mission; (3) submit to its governing body for approval a written report outlining the results of a performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions; (4) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; and (5) have an accessible annual report that includes expenses for major program activities and financial information such as net assets.

Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, 1611 North Kent Street, Suite 901, Arlington, Va. 22209; http://www.policedefense.org. As of January 2008, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund meets the standards.

Mozilla Foundation, 1981 Landings Drive, Building K, Mountain View, Calif. 94043; http://www.mozilla.org/foundation. As of February 2008, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Mozilla Foundation meets the standards.

NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, 1156 15th Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20005; http://www.prochoiceamerica.org. As of February 2008, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation meets the standards.

National Humane Education Society, P.O. Box 340, Charles Town, W.Va. 25414; http://www.nhes.org. As of March 2008, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Humane Education Society meets the standards.

Negative Population Growth, 2861 Duke Street, Suite 36, Alexandria, Va. 22314; http://www.npg.org. As of March 2008, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Negative Population Growth meets the standards.

Operation Air Conditioner, also known as Operation AC, 560 Peoples Plaza, Suite 121, Newark, Del. 19702; http://www.operationac.com. As of March 2008, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Operation Air Conditioner meets the standards.

Orphan Foundation of America, 21351 Gentry Drive, Suite 130, Sterling, Va. 20166; http://www.orphan.org. As of March 2008, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Orphan Foundation of America meets the standards.

Seacology, 1623 Solano Avenue, Berkeley, Calif. 94707; http://www.seacology.org. Meets all standards.

Yosemite Fund, also known as the Yosemite Foundation, 155 Montgomery Street, Suite 1104, San Francisco, Calif. 94104; http://www.yosemitefund.org. Meets all standards.