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 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.

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.

In March 2003, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance revised its standards (The Chronicle, March 20). Some of the reports summarized below were produced under the new standards, while others were based on the old standards.

Copies of the full reports are available from the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Wise Giving Alliance, 4200 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22203; http://www.give.org.

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10004-2400; http://www.aclu.org. Meets all standards. American Foundation for Disabled Children, 930 Willow Brook, Building G, Staten Island, N.Y. 10314; http://www.affdc.org. As of May 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if American Foundation for Disabled Children meets the standards.

American Homeless Veterans, 166 Lynwood Drive, Anniston, Ala. 36201. As of April 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if American Homeless Veterans meets the standards.

American Veterans Relief Foundation, 1114 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, Calif. 92701. As of March 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if American Veterans Relief Foundation meets the standards. Christian Voice, also known as Seniors Center, 208 North Patrick Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314. As of April 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Christian Voice meets the standards.

Conservation International, 1919 M Street, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.conservation.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to have no more than one compensated person, or 10 percent of the board, whichever is greater, serving as a voting member of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board’s chair or treasurer.

Direct Relief International, 27 South La Patera Lane, Santa Barbara, Calif. 93117-3214; http://www.directrelief.org. Meets all standards.

Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, 1 East 93rd Street, Suite 1C, New York, N.Y. 10128; http://www.ffeu.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) substantiate on request its application of funds, in accordance with donor expectations, to the programs and activities described in solicitations; (2) establish and exercise adequate controls over disbursements; (3) have an active governing body that, among other things, meets at least three times a year, with a majority of its members present on average; and (4) have an independent governing body whose compensated members constitute no more than 20 percent of the total voting membership.

Fund for Animals, 200 West 57th Street, New York, N.Y. 10019; http://www.fund.org. Meets all standards.

Good Samaritan Mission Services, also known as Children’s Mission Fund, 8323 Sand Lake Road, Orlando, Fla. 32819; http://www.childrensmissionfund.org. As of May 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Good Samaritan Mission Services meets the standards.

Hope Worldwide, 353 West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, Pa. 19087; http://www.hopeworldwide.org. Meets all standards.

Law Enforcement Alliance of America, 7700 Leesburg Pike, Suite 421, Falls Church, Va. 22043; http://www.leaa.org. As of May 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Law Enforcement Alliance of America meets the standards.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10021; http://www.mskcc.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to present adequate information to serve as a basis for informed decisions, including a detailed schedule of expenses by natural classification, presenting the natural expenses incurred for each major program and supporting activity.

Missing Children Alert Program, P.O. Box 3745, St. Augustine, Fla. 32085-3745. As of April 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Missing Children Alert Program meets the standards.

Modest Needs Foundation, P.O. Box 330307, Nashville, Tenn. 37203; http://www.modestneeds.org. As of April 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Modest Needs Foundation meets the standards.

National Association for the Self-Employed, 1023 15th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005-2600; http://www.nase.org. As of April 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if National Association for the Self-Employed meets the standards.

National Association of Chiefs of Police, 3801 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Fla. 33137-3732; http://www.aphf.org/nacop.html. As of April 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if National Association of Chiefs of Police meets the standards.

National Osteoporosis Foundation, 1232 22nd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-1292; http://www.nof.org. Meets all standards.

Newborns in Need, P.O. Box 385, Houston, Mo. 65483; http://www.new bornsinneed.org. As of April 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Newborns in Need meets the standards.

Reach Our Children, also known as Foundation for Children With Cancer and National Leadership Foundation, 12166 Old Big Bend Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63122; http://www.reachourchildren.org. As of April 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Reach Our Children meets the standards.

Southeastern Veterans Services, 37 Crystal River Drive, Cocoa Beach, Fla. 32931. As of April 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the org anization meets the standards.

Save a Child Foundation, 5154 Miller Road, Suite D, Flint, Mich. 48507-1069. As of April 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Save a Child Foundation meets the standards.