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.
Alley Cat Allies, 1801 Belmont Road, N.W., Suite 201, Washington, D.C. 20009; http://www.alleycat.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 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; (3) 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; (4) have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year that outlines expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration; and (5) include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990. As of August 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Alley Cat Allies meets three additional standards.
American Center for Law and Justice, P.O. Box 64429, Virginia Beach, Va. 23467; http://www.aclj.org. As of August 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the American Center for Law and Justice meets the standards.
Children’s Network International, 5600 Rickenbacker Road, Building 1B, Bell, Calif. 90201; http://www.childrensnetworkinternational.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to: (1) 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; (2) accurately report expenses in financial statements; (3) have an accessible annual report that includes financial information such as net assets, income, and expenses; (4) include on Web sites that solicit contributions the same information recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and 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, dissemination, and securing of personal information, and allow donors opportunities to have their names removed from solicitation lists. As of August 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its finances and fund-raising and informational materials. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Children’s Network International meets three additional standards.
Environmental Defense, also known as the Environmental Defense Fund, 257 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y. 10010-7304; http://www.environmentaldefense.org. Meets all standards.
Gifts in Kind International, 333 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314; http://www.giftsinkind.org. As of August 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Gifts In Kind International meets the 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 August 2004, 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.
Humane Farming Association, P.O. Box 3577, San Rafael, Calif. 94912; http://www.hfa.org. As of August 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Humane Farming Association meets the standards.
Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037; http://www.hsus.org. Does not meet the standards calling for a charitable organization to have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and staff; and to spend at least 65 percent of its expenses on program activities.
Joyce Meyer Ministries, P.O. Box 655, Fenton, Mo. 63026. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if Joyce Meyer Ministries meets the standards.
Leonard Wood Memorial, also known as American Leprosy Foundation, 11600 Nebel Street, Suite 210, Rockville, Md. 20852; http://www.erols.com/lwm-alf. Meets all standards.
National Coalition of Prayer, 100 Laroe Lane, Springville, Tenn. 38256. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Coalition of Prayer meets the standards.
National Defense Foundation, 610 Madison Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314; http://www.ncoausa.org/NDF/NDF.htm#top. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Defense Foundation meets the standards.
National Humane Education Society, P.O. Box 340, Charles Town, W.Va. 25414-0340; http://www.nhes.org. As of August 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Humane Education Society meets the standards.
National Troopers Coalition, 120 State Street, Albany, N.Y. 12207; http://www.ntctroopers.com/. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Troopers Coalition meets the standards.
National Veterans Services Fund, also known as Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Victims, P.O. Box 2465, Darien, Conn. 06820-0465; http://www.angelfire.com/ct2/natvetsvc/. As of July 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the National Veterans Services Fund meets the standards.
Prevent Blindness America, 500 East Remington Road, Suite 200, Schaumburg, Ill. 60173; http://www.preventblindness.org. Meets all standards.
Project Hope/People-to-People Health Foundation, 255 Carter Hall Lane, Millwood, Va. 22646; http://www.projecthope.org. As of August 2004, the organization had not provided complete information about its governance and board oversight. Therefore, the alliance is unable to determine if Project Hope/People-to-People Health Foundation meets two standards.
Save a Child Foundation, 5154 Miller Road, Suite D, Flint, Mich. 48507-1069. As of August 2004, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. The alliance is unable to determine if the Save a Child Foundation meets the standards.
United States Olympic Committee, 1 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80909; http://www.usolympicteam.com. Does not meet the standard calling for a charitable organization to spend no more than 35 percent of contributions on fund raising.