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Today be grateful for your ability to help others. Remember that there is always someone who is having a harder time than you are. As the holiday season is underway, it’s time to start thinking about charitable giving. Keep in mind some guidelines suggested by Charity Navigator:

Be a 3-D giver: There are three components that a wise donor must consider before selecting a charity.

1. Check the charity’s financial performance: Financially healthy organizations – those that are both financially efficient and sustainable – have greater flexibility and freedom to pursue their goals. Charity Navigator’s ratings provide this information.
2. Review the charity’s commitment to accountability and transparency: Generally speaking, charities that follow good governance practices are less likely to engage in unethical or irresponsible activities so, the risk that charities would misuse donations should be lower than for charities that don’t adopt such practices. Donors can view data regarding accountability and transparency for more than 1,000 charities (and growing each month) on the Charity Navigator website.
3. Assess the charity’s results (whether the charity can show evidence that it makes a meaningful difference for people and communities who receive services): Learn about a charity’s accomplishments, goals and challenges by reviewing its website and/or talking with staff. You should be able to ascertain the quality and depth of the charity’s results as well as its capacity to continue to get these results. In the not-too-distant future, Charity Navigator plans to include results information for each of the charity’s it rates.

Follow up on disaster donations: Millions of Americans reached into their pockets this year already and gave generously in response to the Japanese earthquake and Hurricane Irene victims. If you gave, now is the time to follow-up on that gift. Contact the charity that you supported and find out what the organization has been able to accomplish. As we enter the more expensive and time-consuming reconstruction phase of recovery from these disasters, inquire about the projects the charity is currently tackling. If you find merit in their continued endeavors, make an additional donation.

Find inspiration through social media, but be careful when donating: Social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook and blogs enable charities and their supporters to deliver heartfelt appeals to our computers and phones. While these services can increase awareness of a charity and its cause, you should not give based on emotional appeals of these vehicles. You must take at least a few minutes of your time to investigate the groups behind such pleas for help, to ensure that it comes from a legitimate charity. And if you aren’t 100% sure who and what is behind the appeal, then you should visit either Charity Navigator or the charity’s own website to make your online donation.

Give without strings attached: Funders of all types increasingly give gifts that are targeted to specific programs or services. While it is understandable that givers want to fund projects that have a tangible, heartwarming end result, this hamstrings charities. First, it makes it difficult for a charity to change direction mid-project should it finds a more effective course. Second, charities have to scramble to find the funds to cover their day-to-day costs, such as the electric bill. So, while it isn’t particularly exciting to give towards a charity’s general operating funds, it is crucial if you want your favorite charity to be successful.

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey. 

I love this mission statement – CharityFocus is an experiment in the joy of giving. Our services enable inspired people to contribute in meaningful ways to the world around them. Together, we hope to “be the change we wish to see in the world.”

When the economy is in a downturn it’s natural to think of yourself and your family first.  You probably have a mortgage to pay, bills to think about or a family to feed.  It is our instinct to try to get more and hoard what we have already to protect ourselves and to give us a sense of security.  It is certainly counter-intuitive to dedicate more of our time, attention and financial resources to those in the world around us when we are plagued by fear and insecurity.

However that is exactly what we need to do for many reasons.  Most importantly in this sort of financial climate, the poverty and need in the world are at their greatest.  Corporate giving is diminished, the government tightens its funding and the citizenry close their wallets. Hungry children, homeless families, the terminally ill and abused animals do not go simply go away! Also consider that the fastest way out of a recession is for people, governments and businesses to spend money, which serves to support our economy.

If you still have a job, a home, health-care and food then be grateful – you are lucky! Please continue to practice generosity and remember that there is always someone in greater need than you.