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 they 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

American Council of the Blind, National Office, 1155 15th Street, N.W., Suite 720, Washington 20005; World-Wide Web http://acb.org. As of September 16, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if A.C.B. meets its 23 standards.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, P.O. Box G, Kenab, Utah 84741-5001; World-Wide Web http://www.bestfriends.org. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions identify at the point of solicitation a) the benefiting organization, b) a source from which written information is available, and c) the actual or anticipated portion of the sales or admission price to benefit the organization or cause; (2) that the soliciting organization establish and exercise controls over fund-raising activities conducted for its benefit by staff members, volunteers, consultants, contractors, and controlled or affiliated entities, including commitment to writing of all fund-raising contracts and agreements; and (3) that the organization have an independent governing body whose directly and/or indirectly compensated board members constitute no more than one fifth of the total voting membership of the board.

Cancer Research Institute, 681 Fifth Avenue, New York 10022; World-Wide Web http://www.cancerresearch.org. Meets all standards.

Canine Companions for Independence, 2965 Dutton Avenue, Santa Rosa, Cal. 95402-0446; World-Wide Web http://www.caninecompanions.org. Meets all standards.

Concerned Women for America, 1015 15th Street, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington 20005. As of September 2, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if C.W.A. meets its 23 standards.

International Fund for Animal Welfare, 411 Main Street, Yarmouth Port, Mass. 02675; World-Wide Web http://www.ifaw.org. Meets all standards.

National Adoption Center, 1500 Walnut Street, Suite 701, Philadelphia 19102; World-Wide Web http://www.adopt.org/adopt/nac/nac.html. Meets all standards.

National Easter Seal Society, 230 West Monroe Street, Suite 1800, Chicago 60606-4802; World-Wide Web http://www.easter-seals.org. Meets all standards.

National Youth Leadership Forum, 1511 K Street, N.W., Suite 843, Washington 20005; World-Wide Web http://www.nylf.org. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to have a governing structure that insures that any policy-making decisions are made by at least three persons.

United Service Organizations, Washington Navy Yard, 901 M Street, S.E., Building 198, Washington 20374-5096; World-Wide Web http://www.uso.org. Meets all standards.

NATIONAL CHARITIES INFORMATION BUREAU

American Indian College Fund, 1111 Osage Street, Building D, Suite 205-A, Denver 80204. Meets all standards.

Choice in Dying, 1035 30th Street, N.W., Washington 20007; World-Wide Web http://www.choices.org. On September 4, Choice in Dying sent information to the bureau that verified compliance with two standards related to annual reporting and budget that the organization had not met in a May 13 report. C.I.D. now meets all standards.

Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati 45250-0301; World-Wide Web http://www.dav.org. Meets all standards.

Omaha Home for Boys, 4343 North 52nd Street, Omaha 68104-2895. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the organization have policy guidelines to avoid material conflicts of interest involving board or staff members; (2) that the organization insure that fund-raising expenses, in relation to fund-raising results, are reasonable over time; (3) that the organization have net assets available for use in the following fiscal year not usually more than twice the current year’s expenses or twice the next year’s budget, whichever is higher; and (4) that the annual report include audited financial statements or, at a minimum, a comprehensive financial summary that reports ending net assets, among other things.