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, information is 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.

American Brain Tumor Association, 2720 River Road, Suite 146, Des Plaines, Ill. 60018; http://www.abta.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: (1) expenses reported in categories corresponding to the descriptions of major programs and activities contained in the annual report, solicitations, and other informational materials; and (2) a detailed schedule of expenses by natural classification (e.g., salaries, employee benefits, occupancy, postage, etc.), presenting the natural expenses incurred for each major program and activity.

American Breast Cancer Foundation, 1055 Taylor Avenue, Suite 201A, Baltimore, Md. 21286; http://www.abcf.org. As of August 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Breast Cancer Foundation meets its standards.

American Center for Law and Justice, 1000 Regent University Drive, P.O. Box 64429, Virginia Beach, Va. 23467; http://www.aclj.org. As of August 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Center for Law and Justice meets its standards.

American Leprosy Missions, 1 ALM Way, Greenville, S.C. 29601; http://www.leprosy.org. Meets all standards.

Cancer Fund of America, 2901 Breezewood Lane, Knoxville, Tenn. 37921; http://www.cfoa.org. As of August 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Cancer Fund of America meets its standards.

Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America, 1505 Riverview Road, P.O. Box 297, St. Peter, Minn., 56082; http://www.csfa.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 a detailed schedule of expenses by natural classification (e.g., salaries, employee benefits, occupancy, postage, etc.), presenting the natural expenses incurred for each major program and activity.

Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1177; http://www.epva.org. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that fund-raising costs be reasonable, not to exceed 35 percent of related contributions; (2) that total fund-raising and administrative costs be reasonable, not to exceed 50 percent of total income; and (3) that solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions 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 sales or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause. As of August 2002, the organization had not provided complete information on its fund-raising practices. The alliance was unable to determine if the organization meets the standard calling for the establishment of an exercise of controls over fund-raising activities conducted for its benefit by staff, volunteers, consultants, contractors, and controlled or affiliated entities, including commitment to writing of all fund-raising contracts and agreements.

Student Conservation Association, 689 River Road, P.O. Box 550, Charlestown, N.H. 03603-0550; http://www.sca-inc.org. Meets all standards.