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MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP), a nonprofit
charity watchdog and information service, is to maximize the effectiveness
of every dollar contributed to charity by providing donors with
the information they need to make more informed giving decisions.
GOALS
To research and evaluate the efficiency, accountability and governance
of nonprofit organizations; to educate the public about the importance
of wise giving; to inform the public of wasteful or unethical practices
of nonprofits and provide recognition to highly effective and ethical
charities; to advise AIP members
and conduct special investigations and evaluations of nonprofits;
to expand and re-define our programs periodically to meet the continuing
challenge of keeping the contributor informed.
THE AIP DIFFERENCE
AIP is fiercely independent. We do not charge the charities we review
to be listed in our Guide or for the right to publicize their rating,
nor do we accept any advertising whatsoever on our web site or in
our publication. Our board of directors does not include any heads
of nonprofit associations, who receive their pay from the groups
they are watching. Because over 95% of our support comes from small,
individual donations, we have the freedom to speak openly and to
be critical of the unethical practices of some charities, without
concern for special interests cutting our funding.
The rules governing charity financial
reporting leave a lot of room for variation, which results in a
great deal of information that is inconsistent, unclear, or even
incorrect. AIP's standards for evaluating charities are considered
the most stringent in the sector. The financial picture we provide
is often quite different from other sources of information, including
the charity, which is trying to appear in the most favorable light.
With the wide latitude charities have
in reporting their financial activities, the self-reported information
charities provide in their tax forms or solicitation materials may
not be the most useful source of information for donors. AIP conducts
an in-depth, financial analysis of audited financial statements
- documents that are indispensable to any charity evaluation since
they contain information verified and reported by a third-party
outside of the charity itself. These are analyzed along with a charity's
tax forms and other reports so donors will know how charitable dollars
are really being spent.
AIP is the only national charity watchdog
to evaluate social welfare groups that are not eligible to receive
tax-deductible contributions such as the ACLU, Human Rights Campaign,
League of Women Voters, NARAL Pro Choice America, National Right
to Life Committee, and Sierra Club.
With no SEC or federal government watchdog,
no investors who will sue if given false information, and loose
reporting rules, the nonprofit sector has little oversight and much
room for financial manipulation. AIP sorts through the often confusing
reporting of charities so that donors may benefit from AIP's rigorous
analysis.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Daniel Borochoff
President and Founder
Daniel Borochoff has long been a strong and independent
voice for ethics and transparency in the nonprofit sector. He
founded the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP), a nationally
acclaimed charity watchdog, in 1992 to address the need for research
and analysis on charity finances, fundraising practices and governance.
AIP provides information on wise giving to thousands of concerned
individuals, foundations, and corporations. Borochoff has 20 years
of experience as a philanthropic and financial analyst. Thousands
of newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations have covered his
insights into nonprofit practices. He was a founding board member
of the Hearts and Minds Network and the ePhilanthropy Foundation.
During times of crisis, Borochoff has been asked
by Congress to give critical and independent testimony. Borochoff
testified on the charities’ response to the survivors of
9/11 in 2001 and in 2005 he testified on the charities' response
in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. AIP’s research
on veterans charities’ failing performance, while wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan rage on, triggered Congressional hearings
in 2007 and 2008 and Borochoff was again asked by Congress to
participate.
Borochoff served on two task forces of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board that set accounting standards for charities.
He served as an awards panelist for the Society of Professional
Journalists (SPJ) and for the Community Arts Assistance Program
for the City of Chicago. In 2005 and 2006 he was a speaker for
national SPJ conferences. He has an MBA from Indiana University
and a BS in Accounting from Syracuse University.
Ray Lay
Secretary/Treasurer
President and Founder, Forestree, Inc.
Chicago, Illinois
James Vallone
Director
Chief Auditor, Bank of New York
New York, New York
Clinton E. Berry
Director
Worldwide Procurement, PepsiCo
Somers, New York
William W. Newbill, Esq.
Director
Public Sector Attorney
Dallas, Texas
Newbill practices law in the public sector in Dallas,
Texas, and previously worked as a social worker and in public
welfare programs with low income and minority populations in Tulsa,
Oklahoma.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
If you would like to obtain AIP's (and
many other nonprofits') IRS 990 tax form, please visit the website
of The
Foundation Center. Please check our Links
page for additional resources.
AIP's most
recent audited financial statements
(PDF documents require Adobe®
Acrobat® Reader to view.)
STATE DISCLOSURES
American
Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) is
registered in the following states which require these statements:
Florida – “A copy of the official
registration and financial information may be obtained from the
division of consumer services by calling toll-free, within the state,
1-800-HELP-FLA.”
Maryland – Copies of information are
available through the Secretary of State.
Michigan – Registration number is MISC
11307.
New Jersey – Information filed with the
Attorney General concerning this charitable solicitation may be
obtained from the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey by
calling 201-504-6215.
New York – Copies of the annual report
can be obtained from the Office of the Attorney General, Dept. of
Law, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
North Carolina – A copy of the
license to solicit charitable contributions as a charitable organization
or sponsor and financial information may be obtained from the Department
of Human Services, Solicitation Licensing Branch, by calling 919-733-4510.
Pennsylvania – “The official registration
and financial information of the American Institute of Philanthropy
may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling
toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999.”
Virginia – Financial statements are available
from the State Division of Consumer Affairs.
Washington – Financial information is
available from the Secretary of State. Washington residents call
toll-free 1-800-332-4483.
West Virginia – “West Virginia
Residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial
documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston,
WV 25305.” Registration with these governmental agencies does
not imply endorsement by the state.
AIP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, IRS
EIN #33-0491030.
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