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.

American Council of the Blind, 1155 15th Street, N.W., Suite 1004, Washington, D.C. 20005-2706; http://www.acb.org. As of May 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Council of the Blind meets the standards.

American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louis-ville, Ky. 40206; http://www.aph.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) 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; (3) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; (4) include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990; and (5) 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. As of April 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its evaluation practices and finances. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if American Printing House for the Blind meets five additional standards.

Angel Flight America, also known as AirLifeLine, P.O. Box 17467, Memphis, Tenn. 38187; http://www.angelflightamerica.org. As of May 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Angel Flight America meets the standards.

Anti-Defamation League, also known as the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, 823 United Nations Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10017; http://www.adl.org. As of April 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Anti-Defamation League meets the standards.

Center for Victims of Torture, 717 East River Road, Minneapolis, Minn. 55445; http://www.cvt.org. Meets all standards.

Charity Cars, 750 Miami Springs Drive, Longwood, Fla. 32779; http://www.1-800-charitycars.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to make available annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; 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. As of April 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances, fund raising, and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Charity Cars meets 12 additional standards.

Children’s Wish Foundation International, 8615 Roswell Road, Atlanta, Ga. 30350-1822; http://www.childrenswish.org. As of June 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Children’s Wish Foundation International meets the standards.

Compassion International, 12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80921; http://www.compassion.com. As of May 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Compassion International meets the standards.

Epilepsy Foundation, 4351 Garden City Drive, Landover, Md. 20785-2267; http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org. Meets all standards.

Focus on the Family, 8685 Explorer Drive, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80920; http://www.family.org. As of May 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Focus on the Family meets the standards.

Helen Keller International, also known as ChildSight, formerly known as Helen Keller Worldwide, 352 Park Avenue South, Suite 1200, New York, N.Y. 10010; http://www.hki.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990. As of May 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its fund-raising and informational materials. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Helen Keller International meets one additional standard.

Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002; http://www.heritage.org. Meets all standards.

In Defense of Animals, 131 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, Calif. 94941; http://www.idausa.org. As of April 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if In Defense of Animals meets the standards.

Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation, formerly known as Marion County Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, 2330 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Ind. 46208-5730; http://www.mdff.org. As of April 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation meets the standards.

National Vietnam Veterans Coalition Foundation, also known as National Vietnam and Gulf War Coalition Foundation, 1015 North Pelham Street, Alexandria, Va. 22304. 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) 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; (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) make available annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (6) 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; (7) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; and (8) have an accessible annual report that includes financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses. As of April 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its fund-raising and informational materials. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the National Vietnam Veterans Coalition Foundation meets two additional standards.

Northeast Animal Shelter, 204 Highland Avenue, Salem, Mass. 01970-0901; http://www.northeastanimalshelter.org. As of June 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Northeast Animal Shelter meets the standards.

Oceana, 2501 M Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20037-1311; http://www.oceana.org. As of June 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Oceana meets the standards.

Rainforest Alliance, 665 Broadway, Suite 500, New York, N.Y. 10012-2331; http://www.rainforest-alliance.org. Meets all standards.

SOS Children’s Villages-USA, 1317 F Street, N.W., Suite 550, Washington, D.C. 20004; http://www.sos-usa.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities.

Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, Ala. 36104; http://www.splcenter.org. As of May 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Southern Poverty Law Center meets the standards.

Teen Challenge International, USA, 3728 West Chestnut Expressway, Springfield, Mo. 65802; http://www.teenchallenge.com. As of May 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Teen Challenge International, USA meets the standards.

Tiger Haven, 237 Harvey Road, Kingston, Tenn. 37763; http://www.tigerhaven.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board of directors with at least five voting members; (2) spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities; (3) spend no more than 35 percent of contributions on fund raising; (4) 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 (5) include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990. As of May 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its fund raising and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Tiger Haven meets nine additional standards.

Voice of the Martyrs, 200 S.E. Frank Phillips Boulevard, Bartlesville, Okla. 74003; http://www.persecution.com. 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) 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 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.

Wishing Well Foundation USA, 3929 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Suite 303, Metairie, La. 70002; http://www.wishingwellusa.org. As of April 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Wishing Well Foundation USA meets the standards.

World Jewish Congress, 501 Madison Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10022; http://www.wjc.org.il. As of May 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the World Jewish Congress meets the standards.