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.
- ATA does not meet this Standard because the board of directors does not review the performance of the chief executive officer (CEO) at least once every two years.
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.
- ATA does not meet this Standard because although it has produced a written effectiveness assessment report, the report did not include recommendations for future actions.
Standard 9: Fund Raising Expense Ratio - Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.
- ATA does not meet this Standard because according to its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, the organization's fund raising costs were 37% ($502,449) of related contributions which totaled $1,376,041.
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.
- ATA does not meet this Standard because its website, www.ata.org, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include current financial information. The website also does not provide electronic access to the organization’s most recent IRS Form 990.
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.
- ATA does not meet provision (b) of this Standard since its website, www.ata.org, does not provide access to a privacy policy that includes the recommended privacy information.
ATA meets the remaining provision of this Standard.