Watchdog Watch

Following are summaries of recent reports by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. This private group reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The alliance 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 Wise Giving Alliance, 4200 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22203; http://give.org.

American Family Association, 107 Parkgate, P.O. Box 2440, Tupelo, Miss. 38803; http://www.afa.net. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have no more than one compensated person, or 10 percent of the board, whichever is greater, serving as a voting member of the board, and for compensated members not to serve as the board’s chair or treasurer; (2) make available annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (3) have an accessible annual report that includes a mission statement; program accomplishments; a roster of officers and members of the board of directors; and financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses; and (4) include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990. As of December 2005, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances, fund raising, governance, and programs. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the American Family Association meets 11 additional standards.

Breakthrough Ministries, also known as Bridge of Hope, 4595 Gender Road, Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110; http://www.breakthrough.net. As of January 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Breakthrough Ministries meets the standards.

Breast Cancer Fund, 1388 Sutter Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, Calif. 94109; http://www.breastcancerfund.org. Meets all standards.

Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation, 5151 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 420, Washington, D.C. 20016; http://www.diabeteswellness.net. As of February 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation meets the standards.

Enduring Freedom KIA Fund, 66350 Pierson Boulevard, Desert Hot Springs, Calif. 92240; http://www.killedinactionfund.org. As of February 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Enduring Freedom KIA Fund meets the standards.

Good Samaritan Mission Services, 8323 Sand Lake Road, Orlando, Fla. 32819; http://www.childrensmissionfund.org. As of February 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Good Samaritan Mission Services meets the standards.

Jewish National Fund, 42 East 69th Street, New York, N.Y. 10021; http://www.jnf.org. Meets all standards.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, 3550 North Central Avenue, Suite 300, Phoenix, Ariz. 85012; http://www.wish.org. Meets all standards.

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, N.Y. 10163; http://www.michaeljfox.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and staff; and to have a board policy for assessing, at least every two years, the organization’s performance and effectiveness and for determining actions to achieve its mission. As of January 2006, the organization had not provided complete information about its solicitation materials. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research meets one additional standard.

NAACP, formerly known as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 4805 Mount Hope Drive, Baltimore, Md. 21215; http://www.naacp.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have an accessible annual report that includes financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses; (2) include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990; and (3) take action to ensure that privacy concerns of donors are respected in the collection, dissemination, and securing of personal information, and allow donors opportunities to have their names removed from solicitation lists. As of February 2006, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances, fund raising, and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the NAACP meets six additional standards.

Operation Air Conditioner, also known as Operation AC, 560 Peoples Plaza, Suite 121, Newark, Del. 19702; http://www.operationac.com. As of February 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Operation Air Conditioner meets the standards.

Samaritan’s Purse, 801 Bamboo Road, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, N.C. 28607; http://www.samaritanspurse.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have no more than one compensated person, or 10 percent of the board, whichever is greater, serving as a voting member of the board, and for compensated members not to serve as the board’s chair or treasurer; (2) include in its financial statement a breakdown of expenses (such as salaries, travel, and postage) that shows what portion of those expenses is dedicated to program activities; and (3) include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990. As of February 2006, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances, fund raising, and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Samaritan’s Purse meets eight additional standards.

Share Our Strength, 1730 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.strength.org. As of February 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Share Our Strength meets the standards.

Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, also known as Afghan Women’s Mission, 11948 West Washington Boulevard, Suite 201, Los Angeles, Calif. 90066; http://www.saveourplanet.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) make available annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (2) accurately report expenses in financial statements; (3) have an accessible annual report that includes financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses; and (4) take action to ensure that privacy concerns of donors are respected in the collection, dissemination, and securing of personal information, and allow donors opportunities to have their names removed from solicitation lists. As of October 2005, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances, fund raising, governance, and programs. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs meets nine additional standards.

United Cerebral Palsy Associations, 1660 L Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.ucp.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to have a board policy for assessing, at least every two years, the organization’s performance and effectiveness and for determining actions to achieve its mission.

World Concern, also known as World Concern Development Organization, 19303 Fremont Avenue North, Seattle, Wash. 98133; http://www.worldconcern.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board policy for assessing, at least every two years, the organization’s performance and effectiveness and for determining actions to achieve its mission; (2) have an accessible annual report that includes a roster of officers and members of the board of directors and financial information such as net assets; (3) include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990; and (4) take action to ensure that privacy concerns of donors are respected in the collection, dissemination, and securing of personal information, and allow donors opportunities to have their names removed from solicitation lists. As of February 2006, the organization had not provided complete information about its governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if World Concern meets one additional standard.

Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, 212 West Van Buren Street, Suite 1000, Chicago, Ill. 60607; http://www.y-me.org. As of February 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization meets the standards.

Young America’s Foundation, 110 Elden Street, Herndon, Va. 20170; http://www.yaf.org. As of February 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Young America’s Foundation meets the standards.