Watchdog Watch

Following are summaries of recent reports by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. This private group reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The alliance 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 charities that do not meet the standards, details are given only on those standards that are not met. Those organizations meet all other standards. Unless stated otherwise, the organizations are tax-exempt under Section (501)(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income-tax purposes. Copies of the full reports are available from the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Wise Giving Alliance, 4200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800, Arlington, Va. 22203; http://www.give.org.

Adventist Development and Relief Agency,

12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Md. 20904; http://www.adra.org. Meets all standards.

American Cancer Society, 1599 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, Ga. 30329; http://www.cancer.org. Meets all standards.

American Council of the Blind, 1155 15th Street, N.W., Suite 1004, Washington, D.C. 20005-2706; http://www.acb.org. Does not meet the standard calling for an organization to substantiate on request its application of funds, in accordance with donor expectations, to the programs and activities described in solicitations. In addition, the alliance requested, but did not receive, complete information on the American Council of the Blind’s public accountability, use of funds, solicitation and informational materials, and fund-raising practices. The alliance therefore is unable to determine if the organization complies with 10 additional standards related to those areas.

American Humane Association, 63 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, Colo. 80112; http://www.americanhumane.org. Meets all standards.

American Life League, P.O. Box 1350, Stafford, Va. 22555; http://www.all.org. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Life League meets its standards.

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 424 East 92nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10128; http://www.aspca.org. 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 the benefiting organization, a source from which written information is available, and the actual or anticipated portion of the sale or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause.

American Veterans Foundation, P.O. Box 322, Waukee, Iowa 50263. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Veterans Foundation meets its standards.

America’s Car Donation Charities Center, 3755 Omec Circle, Number 4, Rancho Cordova, Calif. 97542; http://www.donateacar.com. As of May 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if America’s Car Donation Charities Center meets its standards. As of April 12, the IRS reported that it had “no record that the organization is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code by virtue of an approved application.”

Amnesty International of the USA, 332 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10001; http://www.amnesty.org. Meets all standards.

Animal Protection Institute, 1122 S Street, Sacramento, Calif. 95814; http://www.api4animals.org. 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 the benefiting organization, a source from which written information is available, and the actual or anticipated portion of the sale or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause.

Arthritis Research Institute of America, 300 South Duncan Avenue, Suite 240, Clearwater, Fla. 33755; http://www.preventarthritis.org. As of May 2002, the group had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Arthritis Research Institute of America meets its standards.

Association for Disabled Firefighters, 1110 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, Calif. 92701. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Association for Disabled Firefighters meets its standards. As of July 2, the IRS reported that it had “no record that the organization is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code by virtue of an approved application.”

Association for Firefighters and Paramedics, 911 Central Avenue, Private Mail Box 105, Albany, N.Y. 12206-1392. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Association for Firefighters and Paramedics meets its standards. As of July 2, the IRS reported that it had “no record that the organization is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code by virtue of an approved application.”

CARE USA (also known as Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere), 151 Ellis Street, N.E., Atlanta, Ga. 30303-2439; http://www.careusa.org. Meets all standards.

Carter Center, One Copenhill, 453 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta, Ga. 30307; http://www.cartercenter.org. Meets all standards.

Catholic Relief Services, 209 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, Md. 21201-3443; http://www.catholicrelief.org. Meets all standards.

Children’s Hospital Foundation, 111 Michigan Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Children’s Hospital Foundation meets its standards.

Children’s Hunger Relief Fund, 182 Farmers Lane, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, Calif. 95405; http://www.chrf.org. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Children’s Hunger Relief Fund meets its standards.

Christopher Foundation, 3380 Bowens Road, Tobaccoville, N.C. 27050; http://www.thechristopherfoundation.org. As of May 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Christopher Foundation meets its standards.

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, 386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10016-8804; http://www.ccfa.org. Meets all standards.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (also known as the Jimmy Fund), 44 Binney Street, Suite L233, Boston, Mass. 02115; http://www.dfci.harvard.edu. As of May 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute meets its standards.

Find the Children, 3030 Nebraska Avenue, Suite 207, Santa Monica, Calif. 90404; http://www.findthechildren.com. As of May 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Find the Children meets its standards.

Friends of the Earth, 1025 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005; http://www.foe.org. Meets all standards.

Gladney Center for Adoption, 6300 John Ryan Drive, Fort Worth, Tex. 76132-4122; http://www.gladney.org. Meets all standards.