Watchdog Watch

Following are summaries of recent reports by the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Philanthropic Advisory Service and the National Charities Information Bureau.

Those two private organizations report on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The organizations do not approve or disapprove of charities, and they urge potential donors to evaluate the importance of variations from the standards. They also note 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, Arlington, Va. 22203; World-Wide Web http://www.bbb.org; and the National Charities Information Bureau, 19 Union Square West, New York 10003; World-Wide Web http://www.give.org.

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

Children’s Mercy Fund (also known as Bosnia Children’s Fund and Children’s Relief Village), 100 North Pitt Street, Suite 202, Alexandria, Va. 22314. As of June 19, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, or governance. The bureau is unable to determine if C.M.F. meets its 23 standards.

David Livingstone Missionary Foundation, P.O. Box 232, Tulsa, Okla. 74102. As of June 19, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, or governance. The bureau is unable to determine if D.L.M.F. meets its 23 standards.

Don Stewart Association/Feed My People/Southwest Indian Children’s Fund, 11052 North 24th Avenue, Phoenix 85209. As of June 19, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, or governance. The bureau is unable to determine if the Don Stewart Association meets its 23 standards.

In Defense of Animals, 131 Camino Alto, Suite E, Mill Valley, Cal. 94941. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the soliciting organization provide on request an annual report; (2) that the soliciting organization substantiate on request its application of funds, in accordance with donor expectations, to the programs and activities described in solicitations; and (3) that the soliciting organization establish and exercise adequate controls over disbursements.

Kids In Distressed Situations, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1035, New York 10115. Meets all standards.

People-to-People Health Foundation/Project HOPE, Project HOPE Health Sciences Education Center, Millwood, Va. 22646. Meets all standards.

NATIONAL CHARITIES INFORMATION BUREAU

Breast Cancer Fund, 282 Second Street, Second Floor, San Francisco 94105. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the organization have guidelines to avoid material conflicts of interest involving board or staff members; (2) that the organization have a policy promoting pluralism and diversity within the organization’s board, staff, and constituencies; (3) that the organization spend at least 60 per cent of annual expenses for program activities; (4) that the organization insure that fund-raising expenses, in relation to fund-raising results, are reasonable over time; and (5) that the organization prepare a detailed annual budget consistent with the major classifications in the audited financial statements, and approved by the board.

Cancer Research Institute, 681 Fifth Avenue, New York 10022-4209. Meets all standards.

Choice in Dying, 200 Varick Street, 10th Floor, New York 10014-4810. Does not meet the standard calling for an annual report to be available on request, or the standard calling for the organization to prepare a detailed annual budget consistent with the major classifications in the audited financial statements, and approved by the board.

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (formerly Pediatric AIDS Foundation), 1311 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, Cal. 90404. Meets all standards.

Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, 120 Wall Street, New York 10005-4001. Meets all standards.

National Cancer Center, 88 Sunnyside Boulevard, Suite 307, Plainview, N.Y. 11803. As of June 16, the organization had not responded with sufficient information for the bureau to prepare a regular report. Based on N.C.C.’s fiscal 1997 annual report to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations, including its I.R.S. Form 990 and audited financial statements, and on information forwarded by contributors or previously in the bureau’s files, N.C.C. appears not to meet the following standards: (1) that the organization’s governing board have specific terms of office for its officers and members; (2) that the organization spend at least 60 per cent of annual expenses for program activities; and (3) that the organization insure that fund-raising expenses, in relation to fund-raising results, are reasonable over time. The bureau notes that there is a question as to whether N.C.C. meets the standard calling for the organization to not have a persistent deficit in net current assets.

Rainforest Action Network, 221 Pine Street, Fifth Floor, San Francisco 94104. Meets all standards.