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.

American Ex-Prisoners of War Service Foundation, P.O. Box 284, Watagua, Tenn. 37964; http://www.powfoundation.org. As of December 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Ex-Prisoners of War Service Foundation meets the standards.

American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, N.Y. 10001-2018; http://www.afb.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to spend no more than 35 percent of contributions on fund raising.

American Police Officers Association, 1305 Long Run Road, Friedensburg, Pa. 17933. As of December 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Police Officers Association meets the standards.

Association on American Indian Affairs, Box 268, Sisseton, S.D. 57262; http://www.indian-affairs.org. Meets all standards.

Bread for the World Institute, 50 F Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20001; http://www.bread.org. Meets all standards.

Breast Cancer Fund, 2107 OFarrell Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94115; http://www.breastcancerfund.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 consumers purchase or business transaction.

Cancer Federation, 711 West Ramsey Street, Banning, Calif. 92220; http://www.cancerfed.com. As of January 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Cancer Federation meets the standards.

Cancer Foundation for Melanoma Research, P.O. Box 399, Falling Rivers, W.Va. 25419. As of December 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Cancer Foundation for Melanoma Research meets the standards.

Christian Children’s Fund, 2821 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, Va. 23294-3725; http://www.christianchildrensfund.org. Meets all standards.

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49560-0600; http://www.crwrc.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body; (2) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; and (3) have an accessible annual report that includes a roster of officers and members of the board of directors, and financial information such as net assets.

City of Hope, also known as Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope and City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, Calif. 91010-3000; http://www.cityofhope.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.

Disabled American Veterans, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, Ky. 41076; http://www.dav.org. Meets all standards.

Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, 1 East 93rd Street, Suite 1C, New York, N.Y. 10128; http://www.ffeu.org. Meets all standards. Help the Afghan Children, 8603 Westwood Center Drive, Suite 230, Vienna, Va. 22182; http://www.helptheafghanchildren.org. Meets all standards.

League of Women Voters Education Fund, 1730 M Street, N.W, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.lwv.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to have an accessible annual report that includes a roster of officers and members of the board of directors and financial information such as income and expenses.

Lupus Foundation of America, 2000 L Street, N.W., Suite 710, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.lupus.org. Meets all standards.

Map International, 2200 Glynco Parkway, P.O. Box 215000, Brunswick, Ga. 31521-5000; http://www.map.org. Meets all standards.

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, N.Y. 10605; http://www.modimes.org. Meets all standards.

Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, 715 Broadway Street, Suite 300, MCA Annex, Quantico, Va. 22134; http://www.toysfortots.org. Meets all standards.

Miracle Flights for Kids, formerly known as Angel Planes, 2756 North Green Valley Parkway, Suite 115, Henderson, Nev. 89104; http://www.miracleflights.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to accurately report expenses in financial statements. As of January 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its budget. The alliance is unable to determine if Miracle Flights for Kids meets three additional standards.

National Federation of the Blind, also known as Blind Federation of America, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Md. 21230; http://www.nfb.org. Meets all standards.

National Foundation for Transplants, formerly known as Organ Transplant Fund, 1102 Brookfield, Suite 200, Memphis, Tenn. 38119; http://www.transplants.org. As of January 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Foundation for Transplants meets the standards.

National Humane Society, 40 East Main Street, Suite 364, Newark, Del. 19711; http://www.humanesocietynational.org. As of January 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Humane Society meets the standards.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 605 E Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20004; http://www.nleomf.com. 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. As of January 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund meets four additional standards.

National Park Trust, 415 Second Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002; http://www.parktrust.org. As of January 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Park Trust meets the standards.

Operation Lookout National Center for Missing Youth, 6320 Evergreen Way, Suite 201, Everett, Wash. 98203; http://www.operationlookout.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body, with the majority of board members attending each meeting in person; (2) 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; (3) spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities; (4) spend no more than 35 percent of contributions on fund raising; (5) 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; (6) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; (7) 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 (8) clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumers purchase or business transaction.

Reverend Ike, also known as United Christian Evangelistic Association, P.O. Box 9000, Boston, Mass. 02205-9933; http://www.revike.org. As of January 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Reverend Ike meets the standards.

Shiloh International Ministries, also known as, Adolescent AIDS Foundation, American Blind Childrens Council, American Veterans Network, Handicapped Childrens Services of America, Second Chance, and Stop the Abuse, P.O. Box 7157, LaVerne, Calif. 91750-7157. As of January 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Shiloh International Ministries meets the standards.

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, 4288 West Dublin-Granville Road, Dublin, Ohio 43017; http://www.davethomasfoundation.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 mission statement. As of January 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption meets one additional standard.

United States Committee for UN Population Fund, 220 East 42nd Street, 28th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10017; http://www.uscommittee.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 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.

United States Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, 1304 Langham Creek Drive, Suite 324, Houston, Tex. 77084-5042; http://www.usdsa.com. As of January 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the United States Deputy Sheriffs Association meets the standards.

WildAid, 450 Pacific Avenue, Suite 201, San Francisco, Calif. 94133; http://www.wildaid.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 accurately report expenses in financial statements.

Women for Women International, 1850 M Street, N.W., Suite 1090, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.womenforwomen.org. Meets all standards.