Watchdog Watch
October 31, 2002 | Read Time: 4 minutes
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 doors 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, details are 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 Red Cross, 17th and D Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006; http://www.redcross.org. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, be accurate, truthful, and not misleading, both in whole and in part; and (2) 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. In response, the Red Cross has indicated that it “plans to change its disaster-appeal language to help donors understand how their gift will be used,” and has “corresponded with existing cause-related marketing partners, requesting that all future promotions include the recommended disclosure” specifying the portion of profits from the sale of promotional items that will go to the Red Cross.
Find the Children, 3250 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, Calif. 90405; http://www.findthechildren.com. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Find the Children meets its standards.
Foundation for the Children’s Oncology Group, 440 East Huntington Drive, P.O. Box 60012, Arcadia, Calif. 91066-6012; http://www.conquerkidscancer.org. Does not meet the standard calling for solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions to 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.
Girl Scouts of the United States of America, 420 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018-2798; http://www.girlscouts.org. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided complete information about its solicitations and informational materials. The alliance is unable to determine if Girl Scouts of the United States meets all its standards.
National Pro-Life Alliance, 4521 Windsor Arms Court, Annandale, Va. 22003; http://www.prolifealliance.com. As of July 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Pro-Life Alliance meets its standards.
National Right to Work Committee, 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 500, Springfield, Va. 22160; http://www.nrtwc.org. Because the National Right to Work Committee is not a charity, it cannot be evaluated in relation to the alliance’s standards for charitable solicitations.
National Stroke Association, 9707 East Easter Lane, Englewood, Colo. 80112-3747; http://www.stroke.org. Meets all standards.
National Youth Leadership Forum, 1110 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 330, Washington, D.C. 20005; http://www.nylf.org. Meets all standards.
Population Communications International, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10017-3521; http://www.population.org. Meets all standards.
Population Connection, 1400 16th Street, N.W., Suite 320, Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.populationconnection.org. Does not meet the standard calling for solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions to 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.
Population Institute, 107 Second Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002-7303; http://www.populationinstitute.org. Meets all standards.
Ronald McDonald House Charities, 1 Kroc Drive, Oak Brook, Ill. 60523; http://www.rmhc.org. Meets all standards.
