Watchdog Watch
October 3, 2002 | Read Time: 2 minutes
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 the 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.
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, Tex. 75244; http://www.komen.org. Meets all standards.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, (also known as PFLAG), 1726 M Street, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.pflag.org. Meets all standards.
PAX, 801 Second Avenue, Suite 1400, New York, N.Y. 10017; http://www.pax.com. 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.
Project Cure, 1000 North Field Court, Suite 160, Roswell, Ga. 30076. Because Project Cure is not a charity, it cannot be evaluated in relation to the alliance’s standards for charitable solicitations.
Project Orbis International, 520 Eighth Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10018-6507; http://www.orbis.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.
Silver Lining Foundation, (also known as Kid’s Stuff Foundation), 1490 Ute Avenue, Aspen, Colo. 81611; http://www.silverliningfoundation.org. As of June 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Silver Lining Foundation meets its standards.
United Jewish Communities, (formerly known as United Jewish Appeal), 111 Eighth Avenue, Suite 11E, New York, N.Y. 10011-5201; http://www.ujc.org. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to provide on request an annual report that includes information about its purposes, current activities, governance, finances, and tax-exempt status.
World Children’s Fund, 5442 Thornwood Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95123; http://www.worldchildrensfund.org. As of June 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if World Children’s Fund meets its standards.
