Watchdog Watch

Following are summaries of recent reports by the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Philanthropic Advisory Service.

The service reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The service cautions that it does not approve or disapprove of charities, and it urges potential donors to evaluate the importance of variations from the standards. The service also notes that charities’ practices may change at any time.

In the list of organizations that do not meet the standards, information is given only on 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.

American Association of the Deaf-Blind, 814 Thayer Avenue, Suite 302, Silver Spring, Md. 20910-4500. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the soliciting organization provide on request an annual report, in the form of a single document, that includes information on its purposes, programs, eligibility to receive deductible contributions, governance, and finances; (2) that a reasonable percentage, at least 50 per cent, of total income from all sources be applied to programs and activities directly related to the purposes for which the organization exists; (3) that a reasonable percentage, at least 50 per cent, of public contributions be applied to the programs and activities described in solicitations, in accordance with donor expectations; (4) that fund-raising costs be reasonable by not exceeding 35 per cent of related contributions; (5) that total fund-raising and administrative costs be reasonable by not exceeding 50 per cent of total income; (6) that the soliciting organization substantiate on request its application of funds, in accordance with donor expectations, to the programs and activities described in solicitations; and (7) that the soliciting organization have an active governing body that, among other things, meets three times annually, with a majority of the members in attendance (in person or by proxy) on average.

Pacific West Cancer Fund (also known as Cancer Center for Detection and Prevention), 320 Andover Park East, Suite 250, Seattle 98188. As of June 23, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if Pacific West Cancer Fund meets its 23 standards.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, One Key Plaza, Cleveland 44114-1022; http://www.rockhall.com. Does not meet the standard calling for the organization’s financial statements to present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, or the standard calling for solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions to 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 charitable organization or cause. The bureau notes that, as of June 24, it is unable to verify the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum’s compliance with four standards relating to use of funds, one standard relating to fund-raising practices, and one standard relating to governance.