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.

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 Forests, 910 17th Street, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20006; http://www.americanforests.org. Meets all standards.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 120 Wall Street, 22nd Floor, New York, N.Y. 10005; http://www.afsp.org. As of November 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention meets its standards.

Amvets National Service Foundation, 4647 Forbes Boulevard, Lanham, Md. 20706. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to provide on request an annual report that includes information about its purposes, current activities, governance, finances, and tax-exempt status, or the standard calling for fund-raising costs not to exceed 35 percent of related contributions.

As of September 2002, the organization had not provided complete information on its fund-raising practices. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Amvets meets the standard calling for organizations to establish and exercise controls over fund-raising activities conducted on their behalf by staff, volunteers, consultants, contractors, and controlled or affiliated entities, including commitment to writing of all fund-raising contracts and agreements.

Asian Relief, 6411 Ivy Lane, Suite 204, Greenbelt, Md. 20770; http://www.worldvillages.org. As of November 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Asian Relief meets its standards.

Cancer Federation, 711 West Ramsey Street, Banning, Calif. 92220; http://www.cancerfed.com. As of November 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Cancer Federation meets its standards.

Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, 1140 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Ill. 60607; 11600 South Longwood Drive, Chicago, Ill. 60643; http://www.mercyhome.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 Mercy Home for Boys and Girls meets its standards.

National Audubon Society, 700 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003; http://www.audubon.org. As of December 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Audubon Society meets its standards.

National Cancer Coalition, 320 Andover Park East, Suite 245, Seattle, Wash. 98188. As of November 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Cancer Coalition meets its standards.

National Caregiving Foundation, 801 North Pitt Street, Suite 116, Alexandria, Va. 22314. As of November 2002, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Caregiving Foundation meets its standards.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 605 E Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20004; http://www.nleomf.com. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the soliciting organization provide on request an annual report that includes information about its purposes, current activities, governance, finances, and tax-exempt status; (2) that the organization substantiate upon request its application of funds, in accordance with donor expectations, to the programs and activities described in solicitations; and (3) that solicitations in conjunction with the sale of goods, services, or admissions identify at the point of solicitation the actual or anticipated portion of the sale or admission price to benefit the charitable organization or cause.

As of December 2002, the organization had not provided complete information about its public accountability, use of funds, solicitations and informational materials, fund-raising practices, and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund meets 16 additional standards.

Orphan Foundation of America, 12020-D North Shore Drive, Reston, Va. 20190-4977; http://www.orphan.org. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to provide on request an annual report that includes information about its purposes, current activities, governance, finances, and tax-exempt status. As of November 2002, the organization had not provided complete information about its governance; therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Orphan Foundation of America meets its standard calling for the soliciting organization to have an active governing body that meets at least three times a year, with a majority of its members present on average.

St. Labre Indian School Educational Association, P.O. Box 216, Ashland, Mont. 59003; http://www.stlabre.org. Does not meet the standard calling for the soliciting organization to provide on request an annual report that includes information about its purposes, current activities, governance, finances, and tax-exempt status, or the standard calling for fund-raising costs not to exceed 35 percent of related contributions.

Walker Cancer Research Institute, 18 North Law Street, Aberdeen, Md. 21001-2443. Does not meet the following standards: (1) that the soliciting organization provide on request an annual report that includes information about its purposes, current activities, governance, finances, and tax-exempt status; (2) 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; (3) 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; (4) that fund-raising costs not exceed 35 percent of related contributions; (5) that total fund-raising and administrative costs not exceed 50 percent of total income; (6) that the soliciting organization substantiate on request its application of funds, in accordance with donor expectations, to the programs and activities described in solicitations; (7) that the organization establish and exercise adequate controls over disbursements; and (8) that the organization have an independent governing body whose compensated members constitute no more than 20 percent of the total voting membership.

Additionally, as of December 2002, the organization had not provided complete information about its public accountability, solicitations and informational materials, fund-raising practices, and governance. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if the Walker Cancer Research Institute meets six additional standards.

World Concern, 19303 Fremont Avenue North, Seattle, Wash. 98133; http://www.worldconcern.org. Meets all standards.