Question: Nearly every day, I receive requests in the mail for donations from various nonprofit organizations. What kind of budgets do these groups have for solicitations? I get about one per month from the larger organizations like American Red Cross, Easter Seals, American Heart Association and MADD. Do you have any idea regarding the amount of monies spent on solicitation?
Answer: You can research charities — as everyone is advised to do — to find out how much they spend on fund-raising and other expenses.
The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance Standards for
Charity Accountability — www.bbb.org/us/Charity-Standards/ — is a good place to start.
It “seeks to ensure that the charity spends its funds honestly, prudently and in accordance with statements made in fund-raising appeals.”
Any accredited charity or one that is a “Seal Participant” has had its financial information reviewed by the BBB and complies with its Standards for Charity Accountability, said Timothy A. Caminos, director of communications.
He also recommended using GuideStar — www2 .guidestar.org/ — and Charting Impact — www.chartingimpact.org/.
“BBB works with both of these organizations to help educate donors,” he said.
If you have additional questions, he suggested contacting Russell Subiono, BBB Hawaii’s charity review administrator, at 628-3917 or rsubiono@hawaii.bbb.org.
Another resource is the state Attorney General’s Charity Resources — hawaii.gov/ag/charities/.
Charitable organizations that solicit contributions in Hawaii are required to register with the attorney general unless exempted by law. These include religious institutions, educational institutions, hospitals and the like.
Question: Behind Foodland Farms in the Aina Haina Shopping Center, there’s a service road. It does not have a ramp on the sidewalk for people in wheelchairs and electric scooters. It’s very dangerous for me. Who is responsible for building a ramp?
Answer: The city Department of Design and Construction is planning to install ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act on West Hind Drive at the driveways to the shopping center.
The design of the ramps will be included in the fiscal year 2012 budget. The plan is for a consultant to begin designing ramps all over Oahu, with construction starting the end of 2013, said Lori Kahikina, deputy director of Design and Construction.
Anyone with a physical disability can submit to the city a request for ramps by filling out the “Curb Ramp Request Form” available online at www1.honolulu.-gov/ddc/civil/.
ADA curb ramps are required to be requested by or on behalf of a “qualified” person, meaning someone who is physically disabled and using a wheelchair, walker or motor scooter.
Someone pushing a baby stroller or riding a bike or skateboard, for example, may want a curb ramp, but that “does not mean that the ramps would be implemented,” Kahikina said.
Qualified individuals without access to a computer can call 768-8801 for help.
Mahalo
To the kind gentlemen who paid for my grocery on Christmas Eve at Foodland Kailua. I wish I had gotten your name. I was so shocked; you certainly touched my heart. God Bless. — Feeling Blessed
Auwe
To the coward who sideswiped my daughter’s car around 5:30 a.m. Dec. 10 on Kamehameha Highway northbound towards Mililani near the Waipio Gentry McDonald’s. You cut in front of her like you were trying to turn into Waipio Gentry, but after you hit her, you sped off in the Mililani direction. Bachi to you for not stopping. — Angry Dad
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Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
