Want to donate to an charity, but don't know who?

It’s the end of the year and many people are looking for nonprofits to donate to. But which one? Knowing which nonprofit to donate to can be annoying. There are so many out there!

First, you need to know your own goals. Why are you donating and what effect do you want to make in the long run? What are your personal interests? Decide if the geographical location matters to you, in order to narrow your choices.

You can use Charity Navigator or Guidestar to get an idea. Charity Navigator focuses on large organizations and may only highlight organizations with problems after they become public. They also flag organizations that spend significant amount of their budgets on fundraising versus mission programming. They are not enough, however.

You can also use GiveWell or The Center for High Impact Philanthropy. These organizations attempt to look at published research to see how well organizational programs are working.

The biggest part is doing a little research yourself. But how do you know an organization is actually doing good? Google the news to see if there are any controversies or red flags. Then check their own website. How honest and transparent are they on their main outcomes. Do they post a 990 form or annual report? Some organizations may not have hard evidence- they might be too small or high reward/high risk, but do they make a case that satisfies your needs?

If you have a high dollar donation, your local community foundations may also help you narrow down an organization that is local and fits your needs.

Finally, if you don’t have enough time to do your own research. Email me and I can help you find the right charity.