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.

Adopt a Platoon, also known as Adoptaplatoon Soldier Support Effort, P.O. Box 1457, Seabrook, N.H. 08374; http://www.adoptaplatoon.org. As of August 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Adopt a Platoon meets the standards.

Allergy and Asthma Network, also known as Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics, 2751 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 150, Fairfax, Va. 22031; http://www.aanma.org. As of July 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Allergy and Asthma Network meets the standards.

Amigos for Christ, 1845 South Lee Court, Suite 1A, Buford, Ga. 30518; http://www.amigosforchrist.org. As of August 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Amigos for Christ meets the standards.

Bible Broadcasting Network, 11530 Carmel Commons Boulevard, Charlotte, N.C. 28226; http://www.bbnradio.org. As of July 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Bible Broadcasting Network meets the standards.

Bread for the World Institute, also known as BFW Institute, 50 F Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20001; http://www.bread.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) submit to its governing body for approval a written report outlining the results of a performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions; (4) 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 (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 July 2006, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances and solicitation materials. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Bread for the World Institute meets two additional standards.

Center for the Study of Services, also known as Consumers’ Checkbook, 1625 K Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20006; http://www.cssresearch.org. As of August 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Center for the Study of Services meets the standards.

Coalition Against Breast Cancer, 1707-4 Veterans Memorial Highway, Islandia, N.Y. 11749. As of August 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Coalition Against Breast Cancer meets the standards.

Earth Day Network, 1616 P Street, N.W., Suite 340, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.earthday.net. 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 activities; 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 July 2006, the organization had not provided complete information about its effectiveness measures. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Earth Day Network meets one additional standard.

Morality in Media, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 239, New York, N.Y. 10115; http://www.moralityinmedia.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) 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; (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 July 2006, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances, effectiveness measures, governance, and solicitation materials. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Morality in Media meets eight additional standards.

National Down Syndrome Society, 666 Broadway, Eighth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10012; http://www.ndss.org. As of August 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Down Syndrome Society meets the standards.

Wheat Ridge Ministries, 1 Pierce Place, Suite 250 E, Itasca, Ill. 60143-2634; http://www.wheatridge.org. As of July 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Wheat Ridge Ministries meets the standards.

World Changers, also known as the Native American Children’s Fund, P.O. Box 25, Pretty Water, Okla. 74067. As of August 2006, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if World Changers meets the standards.

Young Survival Coalition, 61 Broadway, Suite 2235, New York, N.Y. 10006; http://www.youngsurvival.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) 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; (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.