Watchdog Watch
February 10, 2000 | Read Time: 4 minutes
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 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; http://www.bbb.org; and the National Charities Information Bureau, 19 Union Square West, New York 10003; http://www.give.org.
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
Blinded Veterans Association, 477 H Street, N.W., Washington 20001-2694; http://www.bva.org. 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 accurate presentation of all fund-raising costs.
CARE USA, 151 Ellis Street, N.E., Atlanta 30303-2439; http://www.care.org. Meets all standards.
Children, Incorporated, P.O. Box 5381, 1000 Westover Road, Richmond, Va. 23220-0381. Meets all standards.
Christian Children’s Fund, 2821 Emorywood Parkway, Richmond, Va. 23294-3725; http://www.christianchildrensfund.org. Meets all standards.
Congressional Youth Leadership Council, 1110 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 320, Washington 20005; http://www.cylc.org. Meets all standards.
International Rescue Committee, 122 East 42nd Street, 12th Floor, New York 10168-1289; http://www.intrescom.org. Meets all standards.
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, N.Y. 10605; http://www.modimes.org. Meets all standards.
National Caregiving Foundation, 801 North Pitt Street, Suite 116, Alexandria, Va. 22314. As of December 3, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if NCF meets its 23 standards.
National Humane Education Society, P.O. Box 837, 521-A East Market Street, Leesburg, Va. 20176; http://www.nhes.org. As of December 3, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if NHES meets its 23 standards.
National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington 20036; http://www.nthp.org. Meets all standards.
Shiloh International Ministries, 2507 D Street, La Verne, Calif. 91750. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the soliciting organization provide on request an annual report; (2) that the organization provide on request complete annual financial statements that are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (3) that the organization’s financial statements present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, including, but not limited to, expenses reported in categories corresponding to the descriptions of major programs and activities contained in the annual report, solicitations and other informational materials, and a detailed schedule of expenses by natural classification; (4) that a reasonable percentage, 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; (5) that a reasonable percentage, at least 50 percent, of public contributions be applied to the programs and activities described in solicitations, in accordance with donor expectations; (6) that fund-raising costs be reasonable, not to exceed 35 percent of related contributions; (7) that total fund-raising and administrative costs be reasonable, not to exceed 50 percent of total income; (8) that the organization substantiate on request its application of funds, in accordance with donor expectations, to the programs and activities described in solicitations; and (9) that the organization establish and exercise adequate controls over disbursements. The bureau notes that, as of January 12, it is unable to verify compliance with four other standards.
U.S. English Foundation, 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington 20006. As of December 14, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The bureau is unable to determine if USEF meets its 23 standards.
NATIONAL CHARITIES INFORMATION BUREAU
Africare, 440 R Street, N.W., Washington 20001; http://www.africare.org. Meets all standards.
American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas 75231-4596; http://www.americanheart.org. Meets all standards.
Heifer Project International, 1015 Louisiana Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72202; http://www.heifer.org. Meets all standards.
