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

American Indian Relief Council, 70 Main Street, Suite 43, Warrenton, Va. 22186. As of February 22, the American Indian Relief Council had not responded to the bureau’s request for current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if A.I.R.C. meets its 23 standards.

Childhelp USA, 15757 North 78th Street, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85260. Meets all standards.

Children’s Charity Fund, 2011 Bispham Road, Suite A-2, Sarasota, Fla. 34231. As of February 3, the Children’s Charity Fund had not responded to the bureau’s request for current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if C.C.F. meets its 23 standards.

Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Road, Lancaster, Ky. 40446-0001. Meets all standards.

Coalition for America’s Children, 1634 I Street, N.W., 12th Floor, Washington 20036. Meets all standards.

Congressional Youth Leadership Council, 1511 K Street, N.W., Suite 842, Washington 20005. Meets all standards.

Fund for Animals, 200 West 57th Street, New York 10019. Meets all standards.

Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street, N.W., Washington 20037. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization’s financial statements to present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, including, but not limited to, accurate presentation of fund-raising costs.

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, N.Y. 10605. Meets all standards.

Mays Mission for the Handicapped, 604 Colonial Drive, Heber Springs, Ark. 72545-8090. Meets all standards.

National Association for the Exchange of Industrial Resources, 560 McClure Street, Galesburg, Ill. 61401. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to have an independent governing body whose directly and/or indirectly compensated board members constitute not more than one-fifth of the total voting membership of the board or executive committee.

National Caregiving Foundation, 801 North Pitt Street, Suite 116, Alexandria, Va. 22314. As of January 9, the National Caregiving Foundation had not responded to the bureau’s request for current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if N.C.F. meets its 23 standards.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 733 Third Avenue, Sixth Floor, New York 10017-3288. Meets all standards.

People to People International, 501 East Armour Boulevard, Kansas City, Mo. 64109-2200. Does not meet the standard calling for solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions to identify at the point of solicitation a) the benefiting organization, b) a source from which written information is available, and c) the actual or anticipated portion of the sales or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause.

NATIONAL CHARITIES INFORMATION BUREAU

African Wildlife Foundation, 1400 16th Street, N.W., Suite 120, Washington 20036. Meets all standards.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (national service center only), 1230 West Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta 30309-3494. Meets all standards.

Child Welfare League of America, 440 First Street, N.W., Suite 310, Washington 20001-2085. Meets all standards.

Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Road, Lancaster, Ky. 40446-0001. Does not meet the standard calling for an organization to spend at least 60 per cent of annual expenses for program activities, nor the standard calling for an organization to insure that fund-raising expenses, in relation to fund-raising results, are reasonable over time.

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, N.Y. 10605. Meets all standards.

National Jewish Medical and Research Center (formerly National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Diseases), 1400 Jackson Street, Denver 80206-2762. Meets all standards.

World Education, 44 Farnsworth Street, Boston 02110. Meets all standards.