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://www.give.org.

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, with the majority of board members attending each meeting in person; (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.

Huntington’s Disease Society of America, 158 West 29th Street, Seventh Floor, New York, N.Y. 10001-5300; http://www.hdsa.org. Meets all standards.

National Emergency Medicine Association, also known as Kids Do Matter, National Alzheimer’s Council, National Heart Council, National Stroke Council, Seniors Life Council, and the Heart of the Matter, 306 West Joppa Road, Baltimore, Md. 21204; http://www.nemahealth.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 National Emergency Medicine Association meets the standards.

Red Cloud Indian School, 100 Mission Drive, Pine Ridge, S.D. 57770-2100; http://www.redcloudschool.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, and for compensated members not to serve as the board’s chair or treasurer; (2) spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities; and (3) spend no more than 35 percent of contributions on fund raising.

Scleroderma Foundation, 12 Kent Way, Suite 101, Byfield, Mass. 01922; http://www.scleroderma.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 have an accessible annual report that includes financial information such as net assets. As of March 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Scleroderma Foundation meets one additional standard.