There are a bunch of online resources you can use to dig up information on charities to which you're considering donating your hard-earned money. One good place to begin is at a charity's own website, where you may find lots of information -- ideally on specific work the organization is doing and on its finances.
Next, visit the sites of some charity watchdogs:
The American Institute of Philanthropy: This outfit rates several hundred charitable organizations, focusing on their finances.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance: This organization rates hundreds of charities and can help you learn which ones may be spending too much of the money they receive on things such as fund raising or office parties. (Don't view fund raising as a solely bad thing, though -- efficient organizations generate several or many dollars for each dollar they spend on fund raising.)
GuideStar: This outfit offers you access to tax filings of hundreds of thousands of charities. Its mission is "to revolutionize philanthropy and nonprofit practice with information."
To learn about some exciting charities, check out our Foolanthropy Drive, where we offer information on five organizations that may knock your socks off. You can send them some money, if you're so inspired. We're doing so ourselves and hope that you'll join us.
