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.

American Center for Law and Justice, 1000 Regent University Drive, P.O. Box 64429, Virginia Beach, Va. 23467; http://www.aclj.org. As of August 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Center for Law and Justice meets the standards.

American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens, 3801 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Fla. 33139; http://www.aphf.org/afp_cc.html. As of August 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens meets the standards.

American Near East Refugee Aid, 1522 K Street, N.W., Suite 202, Washington, D.C. 20005-1270; http://www.anera.org. Meets all standards.

AmeriCares Foundation, 161 Cherry Street, New Canaan, Conn. 06840-4834; http://www.americares.org. Meets all standards.

Asian Relief, also known as World Villages for Children, 6411 Ivy Lane, Suite 204, Greenbelt, Md. 20770; http://www.worldvillages.org. As of June 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Asian Relief meets the standards.

Autism Coalition for Research and Education, formerly known as Autistic Children’s Education Association, 181 Westchester Avenue, Third Floor, Port Chester, N.Y. 10573; http://www.autismcoalition.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; (2) 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; and (3) 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.

Cancer Fund of America, also known as Children’s Cancer Foundation, 2901 Breezewood Lane, Knoxville, Tenn. 37921; http://www.cfoa.org. As of August 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Cancer Fund of America meets the standards.

Center for Keratoconus, 6551 Vanalden Avenue, No. 8, Reseda, Calif. 91535; http://www.kcenter.org. As of August 2003, 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. Children Incorporated, P.O. Box 5381, 1000 Westover Road, Richmond, Va. 23220-0381; http://www.children-inc.org. Meets all standards.

Children’s Hunger Relief Fund, 182 Farmers Lane, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, Calif. 95405; http://www.chrf.org. As of August 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Children’s Hunger Relief Fund meets the standards.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Bethesda, Md. 20814; http://www.cff.org. Meets all standards.

Dedication and Everlasting Love to Animals, also known as Delta Rescue, P.O. Box 9, Glendale, Calif. 91209. As of May 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Dedication and Everlasting Love to Animals meets the standards.

Dogs Against Drugs/Dogs Against Crime, 3310 Main Street, Suite G, Anderson, Ind. 46013; http://www.daddac.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 Dogs Against Drugs/Dogs Against Crime meets the standards.

Gifts In Kind International, 333 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314-2632; http://www.giftsinkind.org. Meets all standards.

Help in Crisis International, P.O. Box 730, Washington Grove, Md. 20880; http://www.helpincrisis.org. As of July 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Help in Crisis International meets the standards.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 733 Third Avenue, Sixth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10017-3288; http://www.nationalmssociety.org. Meets all standards.

Negative Population Growth, 1717 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 101, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.npg.org. As of July 2003, 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.

Our Little Brothers and Sisters, 1210 Hillside Terrace, Alexandria, Va. 22302; http://www.nphamigos.org. Meets all standards.

Pedals for Progress, 86 East Main Street, High Bridge, N.J. 08829-2510; http://www.p4p.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have financial statements that 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; (2) substantiate on request its application of funds, in accordance with donor expectations, to the programs and activities described in solicitations; and (3) identify at the point of solicitation in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions, the benefiting organization, a source from which written information is available, and the actual or anticipated portion of the sale or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause. As of July 2003, the organization had not provided complete information about its use of funds. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Pedals for Progress meets one additional standard.

PKD Foundation, formerly known as Polycystic Kidney Research Foundation, 4901 Main Street, Suite 200, Kansas City, Mo. 64112-2634; http://www.pkdcure.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and staff; (2) accurately report expenses in financial statements; and (3) 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. As of July 2003, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the PKD Foundation meets two additional standards.