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.

Amvets National Service Foundation, 4647 Forbes Boulevard, Lanham, Md. 20706-4380; www.amvets.org.. As of May 15, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The service is unable to determine if the Amvets National Service Foundation meets its standards.

Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Street, Lancaster, Ky. 40446-0001; http://www.chrisapp.org. Meets all standards.

National Fragile X Foundation, P.O. Box 190488, San Francisco, Calif. 94119; www.fragilex.org. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to provide on request an annual report that includes information about its purposes, current activities, governance, finances, and tax-exempt status, or the standard that solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions should identify at the point of solicitation the benefiting organization, a source from which written information is available, and the actual or anticipated portion of the sales or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause.

Native American Heritage Association, 410 Sheridan Lake Road, Rapid City, S.D. 57702-2467; http://www.naha-inc.org. As of June 14, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The service is unable to verify if the Native American Heritage Association meets its standards.

St. Matthew’s Churches, P.O. Box 21210, Tulsa, Okla. 74121. As of May 31, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The service is unable to verify if St. Matthew’s Churches meets its standards.

Veterans of the Vietnam War, 805 South Township Boulevard, Pittston, Pa. 18640-3327; http://www.vvnw.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 at least 50 percent of total income from all sources be applied to programs and activities directly related to the purpose for which the organization exists; (4) that at least 50 percent of public contributions be applied to the programs and activities described in solicitations; (5) that fund-raising costs not exceed 35 percent of related contributions; (6) that fund-raising and administrative costs not exceed 50 percent of total income; (7) that the soliciting organization substantiate on request its application of funds to the programs and activities described in solicitations; and (8) that the soliciting organization have an independent governing body whose compensated members constitute no more than 20 percent of the total voting membership.