Watchdog Watch

Following are summaries of recent reports by the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Philanthropic Advisory Service and the National Charities Information Bureau.

Those two private organizations report on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The organizations do not approve or disapprove of charities, and urge potential donors to evaluate the importance of variations from the standards. They also note 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 Council of Better Business Bureaus, Philanthropic Advisory Service, 4200 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22203; World-Wide Web http://www.bbb.org; and the National Charities Information Bureau, 19 Union Square West, New York 10003; World-Wide Web http://www.give.org.

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 6350 North Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33309; World-Wide Web http://www.msfacts.org. As of August 26, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if the MS Foundation meets its 23 standards.

NATIONAL CHARITIES INFORMATION BUREAU

Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York 10021; World-Wide Web http://www.asiasociety.org. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the organization’s board have in-person, face-to-face meetings, at least twice a year, evenly spaced, with a majority of voting members in attendance at each meeting; (2) that the organization’s annual report include an explicit narrative description of the organization’s major activities, presented in the same major categories and covering the same fiscal period as the audited financial statements; and (3) that the annual report include audited financial statements, or, at a minimum, a comprehensive financial summary that reports ending net assets.

National Council of Negro Women, 633 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington 20004. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the organization’s governing board have an individual attendance policy; (2) that the board have specific terms of office for its officers and members; (3) that the organization spend at least 60 per cent of annual expenses for program activities; and (4) that the organization insure that fund-raising expenses, in relation to fund-raising results, are reasonable over time.

World Relief Corporation of National Association of Evangelicals, P.O. Box WRC, Wheaton, Ill. 60189. Does not meet the standard calling for the organization’s governing board to have an independent, volunteer membership.