Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility does not meet the following 8 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

WPSR does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

• Receive a copy of the organization’s 2023 IRS Form 990.
• Receive a copy of the organization’s 2023 financial statements.
• Receive information about the financial arrangements made with outside fundraising firms and consultants hired in 2023.

Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

WPSR does not meet this Standard because:

• The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

WPSR does not meet this Standard because:

• The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.

Standard 8 (Program Service Expense Ratio)
Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

WPSR does not meet this Standard because:

• According to the organization's 2023 IRS Form 990, WPSR spent $299,646 or 59% of its total expenses on programs.

Standard 11 (Financial Statements)
Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $1 million, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $1 million, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

WPSR does not meet this Standard because:

• The organization states it does not have 2023 financial statements that were reviewed by a certified public accountant (CPA).

Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

WPSR does not meet this Standard because:

• The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in 2023.

Standard 17 (Web Site Disclosures)
Include on any charity websites 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.

WPSR does not meet this Standard because the organization’s website, https://wpsr.org/, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

• Electronic access to the organization’s 2023 IRS Form 990.
• A summary of 2023 program service accomplishments.

Standard 18 (Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy)
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

WPSR does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://wpsr.org/, does not indicate:

• Does not provide access to a privacy policy.
• How to inform the charity that the visitor does not want his/her information shared with others.

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 12, 14

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility meets the remaining 10 Standards for Charity Accountability.