Watchdog Watch

September 2, 2004 | Read Time: 6 minutes

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.

Central Asia Institute, P.O. Box 7209, Bozeman, Mont. 59771; http://www.ikat.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to have a board of directors with at least five voting members; and to 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, income, and expenses.

Defeat Diabetes Foundation, formerly known as National Diabetes Foundation, 501 150th Avenue North, Madeira Beach, Fla. 33708; http://www.defeatdiabetes.org. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Defeat Diabetes Foundation meets the standards.

Helen Keller International, 352 Park Avenue South, Suite 1200, New York, N.Y. 10010; http://www.hki.org. As of July 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 standard.

MENC: the National Association for Music Education, formerly known as the Music Educators National Conference, 1806 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, Va. 20191; http://www.menc.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to accurately report expenses in financial statements. The alliance is unable to determine if MENC: the National Association for Music Education meets three additional standards related to its allocation of fund-raising costs.

National Coalition of Prayer, 100 Laroe Lane, Springville, Tenn. 38256. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Coalition of Prayer meets the standards.

National Wheelchair Basketball Association, 710 Queensbury Loop, Winter Garden, Fla. 34787; http://www.nwba.org. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Wheelchair Basketball Association meets the standards.

Native American Heritage Association, 410 Sheridan Lake Road, Rapid City, S.D. 57702-2467. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Native American Heritage Association meets the standards.

Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Va. 22203-1606; http://www.nature.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and staff.

Pacific West Cancer Fund, also known as Cancer Center for Detection and Prevention, 757 St. Charles Avenue, Suite 204, New Orleans, La. 70130; http://www.pacificwestcancerfund.org. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Pacific West Cancer Fund meets the standards.

Pathfinder International, 9 Galen Street, Suite 217, Watertown, Mass. 02472-4501; http://www.pathfind.org. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Pathfinder International meets the standards.

Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, P.O. Box 223, Acton, Calif. 93510; http://www.donkeyrescue.org. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue meets the standards.

People for the American Way Foundation, formerly known as People for the American Way, 2000 M Street, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.pfaw.org. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if People for the American Way Foundation meets the standards.

Save the Redwoods League, 114 Sansome Street, Room 1200, San Francisco, Calif. 94104; http://www.savetheredwoods.org. Meets all standards.

Soaring Eagle, also known as Soaring Eagle-Heritage Living Center, 745 Indian Trail, P.O. Box 879, Billings, Mont. 59105; http://www.soaringeagle.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities; (2) spend no more than 35 percent of contributions on fund raising; (3) 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; (4) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; (5) have solicitations and informational materials that are accurate, truthful, and not misleading; (6) 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; (7) 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 (8) 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 June 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its evaluation practices. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Soaring Eagle meets one additional standard.

Survivors and Victims Empowered, P.O. Box 3030, Lancaster, Pa. 17604-3030; http://www.s-a-v-e.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 Survivors and Victims Empowered meets the standards.

United States Fund for Unicef, 333 East 38th Street, Sixth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10016; http://www.unicefusa.org. Meets all standards.

Veterans Fund, P.O. Box 150, Port Treverton, Pa. 17864. As of June 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Veterans Fund meets the 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 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 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.