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.

Catching the Dream, formerly known as the Native American Scholarship Fund, 8200 Mountain Road, N.E., Suite 203, Albuquerque, N.M. 87110; http://www.catchingthedream.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and staff; (2) have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body; (3) have an accessible annual report that includes a mission statement and a roster of officers and members of the board of directors; 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.

Children’s Organ Transplant Association, 2501 COTA Drive, Bloomington, Ind. 47403; http://www.cota.org. Meets all standards.

Firefighters Charitable Foundation, 105 Franklin Street, Suite 17, Westerly, R.I. 02891; http://www.ffcf.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 Firefighters Charitable Foundation meets the standards.

Food for the Hungry, 1224 East Washington Street, Phoenix, Ariz. 85034; http://www.fh.org. Meets all standards.

Foundation for Children in Need, 1417 East Miner Street, Arlington Heights, Ill. 60004; http://www.fcnindia.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and staff; (2) have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body; (3) 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; (4) 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; (5) make available annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (6) accurately report expenses in financial statements; (7) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; (8) 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; (9) 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 (10) 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. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Foundation for Children in Need meets one additional standard.

Freedom From Hunger, 1644 DaVinci Court, Davis, Calif. 95616; http://www.freefromhunger.org. Meets all standards.

Friends of Africa International, P.O. Box 6388, Snowmass Village, Colo. 81615; http://www.friendsofafricainternational.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and staff; (2) 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; (3) 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, fund-raising, and administrative activities; (4) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; (5) 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 (6) take action to ensure that privacy concerns of donors are respected in the collection, dissemination, and securing of personal information. As of January 2006, the organization had not provided complete information about its donor-privacy policy. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Friends of Africa International meets one additional standard.

Gladney Center, also known as the Gladney Center for Adoption, 6300 John Ryan Drive, Fort Worth, Tex. 76132; http://www.gladney.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and staff; (2) spend no more than 35 percent of contributions on fund raising; and (3) have an accessible annual report that includes financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses.

Judicial Watch, P.O. Box 44444, Washington, D.C. 20024; http://www.judicialwatch.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 Judicial Watch meets the standards.

Magic Foundation, 6645 West North Avenue, Oak Park, Ill. 60302; http://www.magicfoundation.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) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; (3) have an accessible annual report that includes financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses; (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; and (5) 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 November 2005, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Magic Foundation meets two additional standards.

Mission to Unreached Peoples, formerly known as Gooddeeds, 115 North 85th Street, Seattle, Wash. 98113; http://www.mup.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and staff; (2) 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; (3) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities and fund raising; (4) 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 and expenses; and (5) 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 January 2006, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Mission to Unreached Peoples meets one additional standard.

National Association for the Terminally Ill, 747 Mount Eden Road, P.O. Box 368, Shelbyville, Ky. 40065; http://www.terminallyill.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and staff; (2) 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; (3) spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities; (4) spend no more than 35 percent of contributions on fund raising; (5) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for fund raising; and (6) have solicitations and informational materials that are accurate, truthful, and not misleading.

National Children’s Leukemia Foundation, 7316 Avenue U, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11234; http://www.leukemiafoundation.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 National Children’s Leukemia Foundation meets the standards.

National Emergency Medicine Association, 306 West Joppa Road, Baltimore, Md. 21204; http://www.nemahealth.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) 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; (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; and (5) 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 January 2006, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances, programs, and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the National Emergency Medicine Association meets six additional standards.

National Federation of the Blind, also known as the Blind Federation of America, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Md. 21230; http://www.nfb.org. Meets all standards.

National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, 444 Brickell Avenue, Suite P-14, Miami, Fla. 33131; http://www.nfaa.org. Meets all standards.

National Hemophilia Foundation, 116 West 32nd Street, 11th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10001; http://www.hemophilia.org. Meets all standards.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, also known as the National Law Enforcement Museum, 400 Seventh Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20004; http://www.nleomf.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 the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund meets the standards.

National Mental Health Association, 2001 North Beauregard Street, 12th Floor, Alexandria, Va. 22311; http://www.nmha.org. As of February 2006, the organization had not provided complete information about its governance. Although the National Mental Health Association meets the 17 other standards, the alliance is unable to determine if the group meets two standards related to board oversight.

Navajo Health Foundation-Sage Memorial Hospital, Highway 264, P.O. Box 457, Ganado, Ariz. 86505; http://www.navajosage.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) make available annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (3) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities; (4) 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; (5) 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 (6) 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 January 2006, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Navajo Health Foundation-Sage Memorial Hospital meets five additional standards.

Negative Population Growth, 2861 Duke Street, Suite 36, Alexandria, Va. 22314; http://www.npg.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 Negative Population Growth meets the standards.

Nonviolent Peaceforce, also known as Peaceforce, 425 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis, Minn. 55403; http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body; (2) have no more than one compensated person, or 10 percent of the board, whichever is greater, serving as a voting member of the board; (3) 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; (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; and (5) 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.

Operation Lookout National Center for Missing Youth, 6320 Evergreen Way, Suite 201, Everett, Wash. 98203; http://www.operationlookout.org. As of January 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Operation Lookout National Center for Missing Youth meets the standards.

Operation USA, also known as Operation California, 8320 Melrose Avenue, Suite 200, Los Angeles, Calif. 90069; http://www.opusa.org. Meets all standards.

Outreach International, 129 West Lexington Avenue, Independence, Mo. 64050; http://www.outreach-international.org. Meets all standards.

PanCAN Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 7000, El Segundo, Calif. 90245; http://www.pancan.org. Meets all standards.

Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, 1835 R.W. Berends Drive S.W., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49519; http://www.phoenix-society.org. Meets all standards.

Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA), 5700 Midnight Pass Road, Suite 6, Sarasota, Fla. 34242; http://www.pwsausa.org. Meets all standards.

Seacology, formerly known as the Seacology Foundation, 2009 Hopkins Street, Berkeley, Calif. 94707; http://www.seacology.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body, with the majority of board members attending each meeting in person; (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, fund-raising, and administrative activities; (3) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; (4) 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; (5) 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 (6) 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, programs, and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Seacology meets one additional standard.

Smile Train, 245 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2201, New York, N.Y. 10016 ; http://www.smiletrain.org. Meets all standards.