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.

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 Association of State Troopers, 1949 Raymond Diehl Road, Tallahassee, Fla. 32308; http://www.statetroopers.org. As of June 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if American Association of State Troopers meets the standards.

American Cancer Aid Foundation, also known as People Helping People, 1225 Franklin Avenue, Suite 325, Garden City, N.Y. 11530. As of June 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if American Cancer Aid Foundation meets the standards.

American Institute for Cancer Research, 1759 R Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009; http://www.aicr.org. Meets all standards.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, 518 C Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002; http://www.au.org. As of June 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Americans United for Separation of Church and State meets the standards.

Arthritis Research Institue of America, 300 South Duncan Avenue, Suite 240, Clearwater, Fla. 33755; http://www.preventarthritis.org. As of June 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Arthritis Research Institue of America meets the standards.

Association for Police and Sheriffs, 121 North State College Boulevard, Suite 14, Anaheim, Calif. 92806. As of June 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Association for Police and Sheriffs meets the standards.

Catholic Church Extension Society, 150 South Wacker Drive, 20th Floor, Chicago, Ill. 60606; http://www.catholicextension.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to provide on request an annual report that includes information about its purposes, current activities, governance, finances, and tax-exempt status.

Christian Relief Services Charities, also known as American Indian Youth Running Strong, Americans Helping Americans, Bread and Water for Africa, Christian Relief Services, and CRS Residential, 8815 Telegraph Road, Lorton, Va. 22079; http://www.christianrelief.org. Meets all standards.

Christopher Foundation, 3380 Bowens Road, Tobaccoville, N.C. 27050; http://www.thechristopherfoundation.org. As of June 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Christopher Foundation meets the standards.

Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation, 1206 Potomac Street, Washington, D.C. 20007; http://www.diabeteswellness.net. As of June 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation meets the standards.

Financial Assistance Network, P.O. Box 60848, Washington, D.C. 20039-0848; http://www.financialassistancenetwork.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 Financial Assistance Network meets the standards. The alliance also noted that as of April 2003, the organization had not received tax-exempt status from the IRS.

Give Kids the World, 210 South Bass Road, Kissimmee, Fla. 34746; http://www.gktw.org. Meets all standards.

Gorilla Foundation, 1733 Woodside Road, Suite 330, Redwood City, Calif. 94061; http://www.koko.org. As of June 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Gorilla Foundation meets the standards.

International Fund for Animal Welfare, 411 Main Street, Yarmouth Port, Mass. 02675-1843; http://www.ifaw.org. As of June 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if International Fund for Animal Welfare meets the standards.

Judicial Watch, P.O. Box 44444, Washington, D.C. 20024; http://www.judicialwatch.org. As of June 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Judicial Watch meets the standards.

Mission of Mercy, also known as Bethesda Ministries and formerly known as Bethesda Outreach Ministries, 15475 Gleneagle Drive, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80921; http://www.missionofmercy.org. As of June 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Mission of Mercy meets the standards.

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, also known as the Kathy Giusti Multiple Myeloma Research Founcation, 3 Forest Street, New Canaan, Conn. 06840; http://www.multiplemyeloma.org. Does not meet the standards 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, and for compensated members not to serve as the board’s chair or treasurer; and to include in its financial statement a breakdown of expenses (such as salaries, travel, and postage) that shows what portion of those expenses is dedicated to program, fund-raising, and administrative activities.

National Association of Police Athletic Leagues, also known as National Police Athletic League and PAL, 618 U.S. Highway 1, Suite 201, North Palm Beach, Fla. 33408-4609; http://www.nationalpal.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 of Police Athletic Leagues meets the standards.

National Mental Health Association, 2001 North Beauregard Street, 12th Floor, Alexandria, Va. 22311; http://www.nmha.org. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

Noah’s Lost Ark, 8424 Bedell Road, Berlin Center, Ohio 44401; http://www.noahslostark.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and staff; (2) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; (3) have an accessible annual report that includes a mission statement; program accomplishments; a roster of officers and members of the board of directors; and financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses; and (4) clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer’s purchase or business transaction. As of July 2003, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Noah’s Lost Ark meets six additional standards.

Operation Military Support, P.O. Box 901, San Andreas, Calif. 95249; http://www.operationmilitarysupport.com. As of May 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Operation Military Support meets the standards. The alliance also noted that as of April 2003, the organization had not received tax-exempt status from the IRS.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 501 Front Street, Norfolk, Va. 23510; http://www.peta.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to have a board of directors with at least five voting members; and to clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer’s purchase or business transaction.

Rainbow/Push Coalition, 930 East 50th Street, Chicago, Ill. 60615-2702; http://www.rainbowpush.org. As of July 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Rainbow/Push Coalition meets the standards. The alliance also noted that as of November 2002, the organization had not received tax-exempt status from the IRS.

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, 20 Roszel Road, Princeton, N.J. 08540; http://www.rfbd.org. Meets all standards. Sacred Heart League, 6050 Highway 161 North, Walls, Miss. 38680; http://www.shl.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 Sacred Heart League meets the standards.

Southwest Indian Foundation, P.O. Box 86, 100 West Coal Avenue, Gallup, N.M. 87305; http://www.southwestindian.com. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and staff; (2) spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities; (3) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; (4) have an accessible annual report that includes a mission statement; a roster of officers and members of the board of directors; and financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses; and (5) clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer’s purchase or business transaction. As of July 2003, the organization had not provided complete information about its governance and fund-raising and informational materials. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Southwest Indian Foundation meets two additional standards.

Space Shuttle Children’s Trust Fund, 51 Louisiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001; http://www.spaceshuttlekidsfund.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 Space Shuttle Children’s Trust Fund meets the standards.

Tiger Missing Link Foundation, also known as Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge, 17544 Highway 14, Tyler, Tex. 75706; http://www.tigercreek.org. As of July 2003, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Tiger Missing Link Foundation meets the standards.

Toy Industry Foundation, formerly known as American Toy Institute, 1115 Broadway, Suite 400, New York, N.Y. 10010; http://www.toy-tia.org/industry/ATI. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body, with the majority of board members attending each meeting in person; and to have an accessible annual report that includes a mission statement; program accomplishments; a roster of officers and members of the board of directors; and financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses.

Trickle Up Program, 104 West 27th Street, 12th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10001; http://www.trickleup.org. Meets all standards.