Watchdog Watch

April 22, 1999 | Read Time: 2 minutes

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

Fire-Victims Charitable Foundation (formerly Firefighters Charitable Foundation), 1270 S.W. 13th Drive, Boca Raton, Fla. 33486. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the soliciting organization’s financial statements present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, which, among other things, includes (but is not limited to) a detailed schedule of expenses by natural classification (e.g., salaries, postage, utilities) for each major program and supporting activity; (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, not to exceed 35 per cent of related contributions; and (5) that total fund-raising and administrative costs be reasonable, not to exceed 50 per cent of total income.

NATIONAL CHARITIES INFORMATION BUREAU

AFS-USA, 198 Madison Avenue, Eighth Floor, New York 10016; http://www.afs.org/usa. Meets all standards.

Asia Foundation, 465 California Street, 14th Floor, P.O. Box 193223, San Francisco 94119-3223; http://www.asiafoundation.org. Meets all standards.

Christian Children’s Fund, 2821 Emerywood Parkway, P.O. Box 26484, Richmond, Va. 23261-6484; http://www.christianchildrensfund.org. Meets all standards.

Doctors of the World USA, 375 West Broadway, Fourth Floor, New York 10012; http://www.doctorsoftheworld.org. Meets all standards.

Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, 715 Broadway, P.O. Box 1947, Quantico, Va. 22134; http://www.toysfortots.org. Meets all standards.