Watchdog Watch

Following are summaries of recent reports by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.

This private organization reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The service 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 other standards.

Copies of the full reports are available from the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Philanthropic Advisory Service, 4200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800, Arlington, Va. 22203; http://www.give.org.

American Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, 702 South Grand Street, Monroe, La. 71201; http://www.deputysheriff.org. As of May 30, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The service is unable to determine if the American Deputy Sheriffs’ Association meets its standards.

American Health Assistance Foundation, 15825 Shady Grove Road, Suite 140, Rockville, Md. 20850; http://www.ahaf.org. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting group to substantiate on request its application of funds to the programs and activities described in solicitations, or the standard calling for the organization to have an independent governing body whose members are not engaged in business transactions in which they have material conflicting interests.

As of May 9, the organization had not provided current financial, fund-raising, and governance information. The service is unable to verify if the American Health Assistance Foundation complies with 15 of its standards regarding public accountability, use of funds, solicitations and information materials, fund-raising practices, and governance.

Andrew’s Buddies, P.O. Box 785, Richmond, Va. 23218-0785; http://www.fightsma.com. The group does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to provide on request complete annual financial statements that present the overall financial activities and financial position of the organization, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and reporting practices; the standard that financial statements should present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, including significant categories of contributions and other income, expenses reported in categories corresponding to the description of major programs and activities contained in the annual report, solicitations, and other informational materials, and a statement of functional allocation of expenses; or the standard that calls for the soliciting organization to have an active governing body that, among other things, meets three times a year, with a majority of its members present on average.

Arthritis Foundation, 1330 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Ga. 30309; http://www.arthritis.org. Meets all standards.

Cancer Recovery Foundation of America, P.O. Box 238, Hershey, Pa. 17033; http://www.cancerrecovery.org. Does not meet the standard calling for financial statements to present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, including significant categories of contributions and other income, expenses reported in categories corresponding to the description of major programs and activities contained in the annual report, solicitations, and other informational materials, and a statement of functional allocation of expenses.

Because the Philanthropic Advisory Service disagrees with the way the foundation recognized direct-mail costs in its 1999 audit report, it is unable to verify compliance with the following standards: (1) that at least 50 percent of total income from all sources be applied to programs and activities directly related to the purposes for which the organization exists; (2) that at least 50 percent of public contributions be applied to the programs and activities described in solicitations; (3) that fund-raising costs not exceed 35 percent of related contributions; and (4) that total fund-raising and administrative costs not exceed 50 percent of total income.

Center for Marine Conservation, 1725 DeSales Street, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.cmc-ocean.org. Does not meet the standard calling for at least 50 percent of total income from all sources to be applied to programs and activities directly related to the purposes for which the organization exists.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Bethesda, Md. 20814; http://www.cff.org. Meets all standards.

Fondest Wish Foundation, 414 Main Street, Suite 207-A, Rochester, Mich. 48307; http://www.fondestwish.org. As of June 7, the group had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The service is unable to verify if the Fondest Wish Foundation meets its standards.

Jewish National Fund, 42 East 69th Street, New York, N.Y. 10021; http://www.jnf.org. Meets all standards.

Miracle Flights for Kids, 2756 North Green Valley Parkway, Suite 115, Green Valley, Nev. 89014; http://www.miracleflights.com. As of April 17, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The service is unable to verify if Miracle Flights for Kids meets its standards.

National Cancer Coalition, 320 Andover Park East, Suite 245, Seattle, Wash. 98188. As of June 13, the group had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The service is unable to verify if the National Cancer Coalition meets its standards.

National Mental Health Association, 1021 Prince Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314-2971; http://www.nmha.org. Meets all standards.

Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation, 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, Va. 23463; http://www.ob.org. As of April 19, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The service is unable to verify if Operation Blessing meets its standards.

Parents Anonymous, 675 West Foothill Boulevard, Suite 200, Claremont, Calif. 91711; http://www.parents anonymous.org. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the soliciting organization provide on request an annual report that includes information about its purposes, current activities, governance, finances, and tax-exempt status; (2) that financial statements present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, including significant categories of contributions and other income, expenses reported in categories corresponding to the description of major programs and activities contained in the annual report, solicitations, and other informational materials, and a statement of functional allocation of expenses; (3) that the organization substantiate on request the application of funds to the programs and activities described in solicitations; and (4) that the organization have an independent governing body whose directly or indirectly compensated board members constitute no more than 20 percent of the total voting membership.

PAX, 801 Second Avenue, Suite 1400, New York, N.Y. 10017; http://www.paxusa.org. Meets all standards.

Peace Tax Foundation, 2121 Decatur Place, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008-1923; http://www.peacetax.com/peace-tax-foundation/. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to have an independent governing body that meets at least three times a year, with a majority of its members present on average.

Retired Enlisted Association, 1111 South Abilene Court, Aurora, Colo. 80012-4909; http://www.trea.org. As of June 1, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The service is unable to verify if the association meets its standards.

United Way of America, 701 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314-2045; www.unitedway.org. Meets all standards.