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.

Allstate Car Donation Association, also known as the California Non-Profit Center for Living and Learning, 14549 Archwood Street, Suite 221, Van Nuys, Calif. 91405; http://www.cnpc.lle.org/vehicle_donation.htm. 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) spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities; (3) include on any charity 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 January 2005, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances, programs, and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Allstate Car Donation Association meets six additional standards.

American Brain Tumor Association, formerly known as the Association for Brain Tumor Research, 2720 River Road, Suite 146, Des Plaines, Ill. 60018; http://www.abta.org. Meets all standards.

Animal Sanctuary of the United States, also known as Wild Animal Orphanage, 9626 Leslie Road, San Antonio, Tex. 78254; http://www.animalsanctuaryus.org. Meets all standards.

Cancer Recovery Foundation of America, 801 East Park Drive, Suite 104, Harrisburg, Pa. 17111; http://www.cancerrecovery.org. As of January 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Cancer Recovery Foundation of America meets the standards.

Children’s Health Fund, 317 East 64th Street, New York, N.Y. 10021; http://www.childrenshealthfund.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 Health Fund meets the 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.

Friends of Animals, 777 Post Road, Suite 205, Darien, Conn. 06820; http://www.friendsofanimals.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; and (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.

Human Rights Watch, 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118; http://www.hrw.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to include in its financial statements a breakdown of expenses (such as salaries, travel, and postage) that shows what portion of those expenses is dedicated to program activities; and to have an accessible annual report that includes financial information on net assets.

Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, 1990 South Bundy Drive, Suite 260, Los Angeles, Calif. 90025; http://www.mazon.org. Meets all standards.

Mercy Corps, 3015 S.W. First Avenue, Portland, Ore. 97201; http://www.mercycorps.org. Meets all standards.

North Shore Animal League America, 25 Lewyt Avenue, Port Washington, N.Y. 11050; http://www.nsalamerica.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) 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; (2) have an accessible annual report that includes program accomplishments; a roster of officers and members of the board of directors; and financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses; 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 January 2005, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances, programs, and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if North Shore Animal League America meets nine additional standards.

Omaha Home for Boys, 4343 North 52nd Street, Omaha, Neb. 68104; http://www.omahahomeforboys.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to spend no more than 35 percent of contributions on fund raising; and to avoid accumulating funds that could be used for program activities. The charity’s unrestricted net assets should not be more than three times the size of the past year’s expenses or three times the size of the current year’s budget, whichever is higher.