Watchdog Watch

March 8, 2001 | Read Time: 2 minutes

Following are summaries of recent reports by the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Philanthropic Advisory Service.

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 the 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.bbb.org.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741-5001; http://www.bestfriends.org. Does not meet the standard calling for an independent governing body whose compensated board members constitute no more than 20 percent of the total voting membership.

Doctors Without Borders USA, 6 East 39th Street, Eighth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10016; http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org. Meets all standards.

Ducks Unlimited, 1 Waterfowl Way, Memphis, Tenn. 38120-2351; http://www.ducks.org. Meets all standards.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, N.Y. 10605; http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org. Meets all standards.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, 3550 North Central Avenue, Suite 300, Phoenix, Ariz. 85012-2107; http://www.wish.org. Meets all standards.

Mays Mission for the Handicapped, 604 Colonial Drive, Heber Springs, Ark. 72545-8090; http://www.maysmission.org. Meets all standards.

Media Research Center, 325 South Patrick Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314; http://www.mediaresearch.org. Meets all standards.

Project A.L.S., 511 Avenue of the Americas, PMB No. 341, New York, N.Y. 10011; http://www.projectals.org. Meets all standards.

Salesian Missions, 2 Lefevre Lane, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801-5710; http://www.salesianmissions.org. Meets all standards.

Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, Ala. 36104; http://www.splcenter.org. Does not meet the standard calling for at least 50 percent of total income from all sources to be applied to the programs and activities directly related to the purposes for which the organization exists, or the standard calling for at least 50 percent of contributions to be applied to the programs and activities described in solicitations.

Volunteers of America, 1660 Duke Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314-3427; http://www.voa.org. Meets all standards.