Watchdog Watch: Alliance Defense Fund and More

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.

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

Alliance Defense Fund, 15333 North Pima Road, Suite 165, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85260; http://www.alliancedefensefund.org. As of August 2007, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Alliance Defense Fund meets the standards.

Alliance for Youth Achievement, 3114 Blue Phlox, Maryville, Tenn. 37803; http://www.allforyouth.org. Meets all standards.

American Red Cross National Headquarters, 2025 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006; http://www.redcross.org. Meets all standards.

Betty Ford Center, 39000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, Calif. 92270; http://www.bettyfordcenter.org. As of September 2007, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Betty Ford Center meets the standards.

Bible Broadcasting Network, 11530 Carmel Commons Boulevard, Charlotte, N.C. 28226; http://www.bbnradio.org. As of July 2007, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Bible Broadcasting Network meets the standards.

Feminist Majority Foundation, 1600 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 801, Arlington, Va. 22209; http://www.feminist.org. As of August 2007, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Feminist Majority Foundation meets the standards.

Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, 1175 Charnelton Street, Eugene, Ore. 97401; http://www.fseee.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) 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; (2) have a board policy for assessing, at least every two years, the organization’s performance and effectiveness and for determining actions to achieve its mission; (3) submit to its governing body for approval a written report outlining the results of a performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions; (4) spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities; (5) 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 activities; (6) have an accessible annual report that includes financial information on total program, fund-raising, and administrative expenses; and (7) take action to allow donors opportunities to have their names removed from solicitation lists.

Friends of the Orphans, 85 West Algonquin Road, Suite 395, Arlington Heights, Ill. 60005; http://www.friendsoftheorphans.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) submit to its governing body for approval a written report outlining the results of a performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions; (2) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; and (3) include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information recommended for annual reports, as well as electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.

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

Give2TheTroops, 196 West Street, Rocky Hill, Conn. 06067; http://www.give2thetroops.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities; (2) 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 fund-raising activities; (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) include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information recommended for annual reports, as well as electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990. As of August 2007, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Give2TheTroops meets one additional standard.

Hands On Network, 900 Means Street, Suite 210, Atlanta, Ga. 30318; http://www.handsonnetwork.org. As of August 2007, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Hands On Network meets the standards.

Opportunity International, 2122 York Road, Suite 340, Oak Brook, Ill. 60523; http://www.opportunity.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) spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities; (3) 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 activities; and (4) include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information recommended for annual reports, as well as electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990. As of September 2007, the organization had not provided complete information about its governance and oversight and solicitation materials. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Opportunity International meets two additional standards.

Partnership Project, 1615 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036; http://www.saveourenvironment.org. Meets all standards.

Shelter Rock Ministries, also known as Shelter Rock Appalachian Relief, P.O. Box 1158, Boone, N.C. 28607; http://www.shelterrock.org. As of August 2007, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Shelter Rock Ministries meets the standards.

Soaring Eagle, 745 Indian Trail, P.O. Box 879, Billings, Mont. 59105; http://www.soaringeagle.org. As of August 2007, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Soaring Eagle meets the standards.

Solar Cookers International, 1919 21st St., Suite 101, Sacramento, Calif. 95814; http://solarcooking.org/sci.htm. As of August 2007, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Solar Cookers International meets the standards.

Voice of the Martyrs, 200 East Frank Phillips Boulevard, Bartlesville, Okla. 74003; http://www.persecution.com. As of August 2007, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Voice of the Martyrs meets the standards.

WaterPartners International, 2405 Grand Boulevard, Suite 860, Kansas City, Mo. 64108; http://www.water.org. Meets all standards.

Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, also known as the Will Rogers Institute, 10045 Riverside Drive, Third Floor, Toluca Lake, Calif. 91602; http://www.wrinstitute.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) 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; (2) have a board policy for assessing, at least every two years, the organization’s performance and effectiveness and for determining actions to achieve its mission; (3) have an accessible annual report that includes financial information such as net assets; (4) include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information recommended for annual reports, as well as electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990; and (5) take action to ensure that privacy concerns of donors are respected in the collection and dissemination of personal information.