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.

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

American Civil Rights Union, 3213 Duke Street, Suite 625, Alexandria, Va. 22314; http://www.civilrightsunion.org. As of December 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Civil Rights Union meets the standards.

American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, N.Y. 10001; http://www.afb.org. Meets all standards.

Children’s Hunger Relief Fund, 182 Farmers Lane, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, Calif. 95405; http://www.chrf.org. As of December 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Children’s Hunger Relief Fund meets the standards.

Children’s Institute, formerly known as the Primary Mental Health Project, 274 North Goodman Street, Suite D103, Rochester, N.Y. 14607; http://www.childrensinstitute.net. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for fund raising.

Christopher Foundation, 3380 Bowens Road, Tobaccoville, N.C. 27050; http://www.thechristopherfoundation.org. As of December 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Christopher Foundation meets the standards.

Co-op America Foundation, 1612 K Street, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20006; http://www.coopamerica.org. As of December 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Co-op America Foundation meets the standards.

Compassion International, 12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80921; http://www.compassion.com. Meets all standards.

Enduring Freedom KIA Fund, 301 Overlook Road, Palm Springs, Calif. 92264; http://www.killedinactionfund.org. As of December 2004, 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.

Foundation Fighting Blindness, 11435 Cronhill Drive, Owings Mills, Md. 21117; http://www.fightblindness.org. Meets all standards.

Foundation for International Community Assistance, 1101 14th Street, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, D.C. 20005; http://www.villagebanking.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to 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 to provide in its written solicitations an opportunity for donors to indicate that they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization. As of December 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its methods for measuring effectiveness. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Foundation for International Community Assistance meets one additional standard.

Goodwill Industries International, 15810 Indianola Drive, Rockville, Md. 20855; http://www.goodwill.org. Does not meet the standards 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; and to have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for fund raising. As of January 2005, the organization had not provided complete information about its fund-raising and informational materials. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Goodwill Industries International meets one additional standard.

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, 371 East Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, N.Y. 11787; http://www.guidedog.org. Meets all standards.

National Childhood Cancer Foundation, 4600 East West Highway, Suite 600, Bethesda, Md. 20814; http://www.curesearch.org. Meets all standards.

National Organization for Women Foundation, also known as the NOW Foundation, 733 15th Street, N.W., Suite 240, Washington, D.C. 20005; http://www.nowfoundation.org. As of December 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Organization for Women Foundation meets the standards.

National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.nationaltrust.org. Meets all standards.

Our Little Brothers and Sisters, also known as Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, 1210 Hillside Terrace, Alexandria, Va. 22302; http://www.olbsus.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities.

Oxfam America, 26 West Street, Boston, Mass. 02111; http://www.oxfamamerica.org. Meets all standards.

Pearl S. Buck International, 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, Pa. 18944; http://www.pearlsbuck.org. Meets all standards.

Population Connection, formerly known as Zero Population Growth, 1400 16th Street, N.W., Suite 320, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.populationconnection.org. Meets all standards.

READ Nepal, 976 Tee Court, Incline Village, Nev. 89451; http://www.readnepal.org. Meets all standards.

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, 500 Morris Avenue, Springfield, N.J. 07081; http://www.christopherreeve.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 an accessible annual report that includes 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 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances, programs, and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation meets three additional standards.

Selous Foundation, 325 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003. As of November 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Selous Foundation meets the standards.

Wilderness Society, 1615 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.wilderness.org. Meets all standards.

Youth Development Fund, also known as A Child’s Dream, 8 Canberra Drive, Knoxville, Tenn. 37923; http://www.youthdevelopmentfund.org. As of November 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Youth Development Fund meets the standards.