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Following are summaries of recent reports by the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Philanthropic Advisory Service.

The service reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The service cautions that it does not approve or disapprove of charities, and it urges potential donors to evaluate the importance of variations from the standards. The service also notes that charities’ practices may change at any time.

In the list of organizations that do not meet the standards, information is given only on 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; http://www.bbb.org.

Alzheimer’s Association (formerly Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association), 919 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1000, Chicago 60611-1676; http://www.alz.org. Meets all standards.

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

AmeriCares Foundation, 161 Cherry Street, New Canaan, Conn. 06840; http://www.americares.org. As of March 16, the organization had not met the standard calling for the soliciting organization’s policy-making decisions to be made by at least three people, or the standard calling for the soliciting organization to have a governing body that meets at least three times a year. The bureau notes that, since it issued this report on March 16, AmeriCares has said it would take steps to meet those standards.

Children’s Health Fund, 317 East 64th Street, New York 10021; http://www.childrenshealthfund.org. Meets all standards.

Compassion International, 3955 Cragwood Drive, Colorado Springs 80918; http://www.ci.org. Meets all standards.

Covenant House, 346 West 17th Street, New York 10011-5002; http://www.covenanthouse.org. Meets all standards.

Habitat for Humanity International, 121 Habitat Street, Americus, Ga. 31709-3498; http://www.habitat.org. Meets all standards.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (formerly known as Leukemia Society of America), 600 Third Avenue, Fourth Floor, New York 10016; http://www.leukemia.org. Meets all standards.

Mercy International-USA, 44450 Pinetree Drive, Suite 201, Plymouth, Mich. 49170-3869; http://www.mercyusa.org. Meets all standards.

Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 6350 North Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33309; http://www.msfacts.org. As of March 27, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if M.S.F. meets its 23 standards.

National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, Neb. 68410; http://www.arborday.org. Meets all standards.

National Association of the Deaf, 814 Thayer Avenue, Silver Spring, Md. 20910-4500; http://www.nad.org. As of April 10, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if N.A.D. meets its 23 standards.

National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, 800 Brickell Avenue, Suite 500, Miami 33131; http://www.nfaa.org. Meets all standards.

Oasis Preserve International, 517 Ocean Front Walk, Suite 11A, Venice, Calif. 90291; http://www.oasispi.org. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the soliciting organization provide on request an annual report in the form of a single document; (2) that the soliciting organization provide on request complete audited financial statements that 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, but not limited to, a clear breakdown of expenses into program services, fund-raising, and administrative categories; (4) that solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions identify at the point of solicitation the actual or anticipated portion of the sales or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause; and (5) that the soliciting organization have a governing body that, among other things, meets three times annually. The bureau notes that it is unable to verify compliance with four additional standards; it also notes that O.P.I. has responded to this March 6 report and has said it is taking steps to comply with the standards above.

Oncology Nursing Society Foundation, 501 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh 15220; http://www.ons.org. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to provide on request an annual report that contains information about financial position and financial activities.

Oxfam America, 26 West Street, Boston 02111-1206; http://www.oxfamamerica.org. Meets all standards.

Polly Klaas Foundation, P.O. Box 800, Petaluma, Calif. 94953; http://www.pollyklaas.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a reasonable percentage, at least 50 percent, of total income from all sources to be applied to programs and activities directly related to the purposes for which the organization exists, or the standard calling for a reasonable percentage, at least 50 percent, of public contributions to be applied to the programs and activities described in solicitations, in accordance with donor expectations.