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 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 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, Wise Giving Alliance, 4200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800, Arlington, Va. 22203; http://www.give.org.

Concert Productions, 220 Forbes Road, Suite 205, Braintree, Mass. 02184; http://www.fromthetop.org. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the organization provide on request an annual report that includes information about its purposes, current activities, governance, finances, and tax-exempt status; (2) that the organization provide on request complete annual financial statements, audited when income exceeds $100,000, that present the overall financial activities and financial position of the organization, and are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and reporting practices; (3) 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 informational materials, a statement of functional allocation of expenses, accurate presentation of all administrative costs, and disclosure of multi-purpose activities that combine fund raising with one or more activities; (4) that the organization have an active governing body that, among other things, meets three times annually, with meetings evenly spaced over the course of the year; and (5) that the organization have an independent governing body whose compensated members constitute no more than 20 percent of the total voting membership.

At the time the report was published, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances. The alliance is unable to determine if Concert Productions meets the following standards: (1) that at least 50 percent of total income from all sources be applied to programs and activities directly related to the purposes for which the organization exists; (2) that at least 50 percent of public contributions be applied to the programs and activities described in solicitations, in accordance with donor expectations; (3) that fund-raising costs not exceed 35 percent of related contributions; and (4) that total fund-raising and administrative costs not exceed 50 percent of total income.

Kids Wish Network, 160 Scarlet Boulevard, Oldsmar, Fla. 34677; http://www.kidswishnetwork.org. At the time the report was published, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Kids Wish Network meets its standards.

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

Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, 1140 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Ill. 60607; http://www.mercyhome.org. At the time the report was published, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls meets its standards.

Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, 7008 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, Va. 22003; http://www.purpleheart.org. At the time the report was published, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation meets its standards.

Missing Children…Help Center, 410 Ware Boulevard, Suite 710, Tampa, Fla. 33619-4457; http://www.800usakids.org. At the time the report was published, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Missing Children…Help Center meets its standards.

National Foundation for Transplants, 1102 Brookfield, Suite 200, Memphis, Tenn. 38119; http://www.transplants.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.

Nora Lam Chinese Ministries International, 5442 Thornwood Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95123. At the time the report was published, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Nora Lam Chinese Ministries International meets its standards.