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 Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, 3001 Armand Street, Suite B, Monroe, La. 71201; http://www.deputysheriff.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 at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities; (3) spend no more than 35 percent of contributions on fund raising; (4) make available annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (5) 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; (6) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; and (7) 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. As of March 2005, the organization had not provided complete information about its governance and fund-raising materials. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the American Deputy Sheriffs’ Association meets four additional standards.

American Taxpayers Alliance, also known as the American Defense Council, P.O. Box 917, Frederick, Md. 21701. As of March 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Taxpayers Alliance meets the standards.

American Veterans Relief Foundation, 1118 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, Calif. 92701; http://www.avrfoundation.us. As of February 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Veterans Relief Foundation meets the standards.

Any Soldier, P.O. Box 1929, La Plata, Md. 26046; http://www.anysoldier.com. As of February 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Any Soldier meets the standards.

Association for Disabled Firefighters, 1118 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, Calif. 92701; http://www.adisabledfirefighter.org. As of February 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Association for Disabled Firefighters meets the standards.

Catholic Medical Mission Board, 10 West 17th Street, New York, N.Y. 10011; http://www.cmmb.org. Meets all standards.

Children’s Hospital Foundation, 111 Michigan Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20010. As of March 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Children’s Hospital Foundation meets the standards.

Children’s Network International, also known as Military Family Assistance Paks, 5600 Rickenbacker Road, Building 1B, Bell, Calif. 90201; http://www.childrensnetworkinternational.org. Meets all standards.

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, 386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10016; http://www.ccfa.org. Meets all standards.

Doctors Without Borders USA (Médecins Sans Frontires USA), 333 Seventh Avenue, Second Floor, New York, N.Y. 10001; http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org. As of March 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Doctors Without Borders USA (Médecins Sans Frontires USA) meets the standards.

Don Stewart Association, 11052 North 24th Avenue, Phoenix, Ariz. 85029. 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 Don Stewart Association meets the standards.

Earth Island Institute, 300 Broadway, Suite 28, San Francisco, Calif. 94133; http://www.earthisland.org. Meets all standards.

Earthjustice, formerly known as Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, 426 17th Street, Sixth Floor, Oakland, Calif. 94612; http://www.earthjustice.org. Meets all standards.

FaithTrust Institute, formerly known as the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence, 2400 North 45th Street, Suite 10, Seattle, Wash. 98103; http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org. Meets all standards.

Farm Sanctuary, P.O. Box 150, Watkins Glen, N.Y. 14891; http://www.farmsanctuary.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board of directors with at least five voting members; (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) 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; and (4) clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer’s purchase or business transaction.

Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, 1 East 93rd Street, Suite 1C, New York, N.Y. 10128; http://www.ffeu.org. Meets all standards.

Gorilla Foundation, 1733 Woodside Road, Suite 330, Redwood City, Calif. 94061; http://www.koko.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 Gorilla Foundation meets the standards.

Help Hospitalized Veterans, 36585 Penfield Lane, Winchester, Calif. 92596; http://www.hhv.org. As of February 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Help Hospitalized Veterans meets the standards.

Kids Wish Network, 160 Scarlet Boulevard, Oldsmar, Fla. 34677; http://www.kidswishnetwork.org. As of February 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Kids Wish Network meets the standards.

MBE We Deliver Dreams Foundation, also known as the MBE Foundation for Children’s Initiatives, 6060 Cornerstone Court West, San Diego, Calif. 92121. 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 MBE We Deliver Dreams Foundation meets the standards.

National Brain Tumor Foundation, 414 13th Street, Suite 700, Oakland, Calif. 94612; http://www.braintumor.org. As of March 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Brain Tumor Foundation meets the standards.

National Cancer Center, 88 Sunnyside Boulevard, Plainview, N.Y. 11803. As of March 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Cancer Center meets the standards.

National Foundation for Transplants, formerly known as the Organ Transplant Fund, 1102 Brookfield, Suite 200, Memphis, Tenn. 38119; http://www.transplants.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to have a board policy for assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness.

National Hemophilia Foundation, 116 West 32nd Street, 11th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10001; http://www.hemophilia.org. As of March 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Hemophilia Foundation meets the standards.

National Relief Charities, also known as the American Indian Education Foundation, 70 Main Street, Warrenton, Va. 20186; http://www.nrcprograms.org. As of March 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if National Relief Charities meet the standards.

Nora Lam Chinese Ministries, 5442 Thornwood Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95123. As of March 2005, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Nora Lam Chinese Ministries meets the standards.

Pedals for Progress, P.O. Box 312, High Bridge, N.J. 08829; http://www.p4p.org. Meets all standards.

World Relief, 7 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Md. 21202; http://www.worldrelief.org. Meets all standards.