Watchdog Watch

Following are summaries of recent reports by the National Charities Information Bureau.

That private organization reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The organization 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 National Charities Information Bureau, 19 Union Square West, New York 10003; World-Wide Web http://www.give.org.

Federation for American Immigration Reform, 1666 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington 20009; World-Wide Web http://www.fairus.org. Meets all standards.

Help Hospitalized Veterans, 2065 Kurtz Street, San Diego 92110; World-Wide Web http://www.hhv.org. As of January 11, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, or governance. Based on information contained in the organization’s fiscal 1997 annual report filed with the Attorney General of California, including its I.R.S. Form 990, and on information forwarded by contributors or already in the bureau’s files, H.H.V. does not meet the standard calling for the organization to spend at least 60 per cent of annual expenses for program activities, or the standard calling for the organization to insure that fund-raising expenses, in relation to fund-raising results, are reasonable over time. The bureau notes that it is unable to verify compliance with its other standards.

National Cancer Coalition, 320 Andover Park East, Suite 250, Seattle 98188. As of January 14, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. Based on the organization’s 1997 registration statement filed with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations, including its I.R.S. Form 990 and audited financial statements, and on information forwarded by contributors or already in the bureau’s files, N.C.C. does not meet the standard calling for an organization to spend at least 60 per cent of annual expenses for program activities, or the standard calling for the organization to have no persistent deficit in net current assets. The bureau notes that it is unable to verify compliance with its other standards.

National FFA (Future Farmers of America) Foundation, 6060 FFA Drive, P.O. Box 68960, Indianapolis 46268-0960. Does not meet the following standards: (1) 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; (2) that the annual report include audited financial statements or, at a minimum, a comprehensive financial summary that a) identifies all revenues in significant categories, b) reports expenses in the same program, management, general, and fund-raising categories as the audited financial statements, and c) reports ending net assets; and (3) that the organization prepare a detailed annual budget consistent with the major classifications in the audited financial statements, and approved by the board.

National Hemophilia Foundation (National Service Center), 116 West 32nd Street, 11th Floor, New York 10001; World-Wide Web http://www.hemophilia.org. Meets all standards.

Native American Heritage Association, 410 Sheridan Lake Road, Rapid City, S.D. 57702-2495. As of January 14, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. Based primarily on its 1997 registration statement filed with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations, including its I.R.S. Form 990 and audited financial statements, and on information forwarded by contributors or already in the bureau’s files, N.A.H.A. does not meet the following standards: (1) that the organization’s governing board have no more than one paid staff member, usually the chief staff officer, who shall not chair the board or serve as treasurer; (2) that the board have no material conflicts of interest involving board or staff members; (3) that promotion, fund raising, and public information describe accurately the organization’s identity, purpose, programs, and financial needs; (4) that the organization spend at least 60 per cent of annual expenses for program activities; (5) that the organization insure that fund-raising expenses, in relation to fund-raising results, are reasonable over time; and (6) that financial statements are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, accompanied by a report of an independent certified public accountant, and reviewed by the board. The bureau notes that it is unable to verify compliance with its other standards.

The Omaha Home for Boys, 4343 North 52nd Street, Omaha, Neb. 68104-2895; World-Wide Web http://omahafreenet.org/boyshome. As of January 25, O.H.B. meets the standard calling for an organization’s governing board to have policy guidelines to avoid material conflicts of interest involving board or staff members. This amends a report dated August 17, 1998.

Project Cure, also soliciting as National Diabetes Fund, Center for Advanced Heart Research, Alzheimer’s Disease Fund, and Prostate Cancer Fund, 16801 Addison Road, Suite 207, Dallas 75248. As of January 14, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. Based primarily on the organization’s registration statement filed with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations, including its Form 990 and audited financial statements, and information forwarded by contributors or already in the bureau’s files, Project Cure does not meet the following standards: (1) that the organization’s governing board have a minimum of five voting members; (2) that the board have no more than one paid staff member, usually the chief staff officer, who shall not chair the board or serve as treasurer; (3) that the organization spend at least 60 per cent of annual expenses for program activities; (4) that the organization insure that fund-raising expenses, in relation to fund-raising results, are reasonable over time; (5) that the organization have no persistent deficit in net current assets; and (6) that financial statements are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, accompanied by a report of an independent certified public accountant, and reviewed by the board. The bureau notes that it is unable to verify compliance with its other standards.