CHARITABLE GIVING

In light of the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti, many people are looking to make a donation to help the victims. But first, take a quick extra step as a smart consumer before you donate and learn more about the organization you are interested in supporting. Here are a few things to keep in mind when making a charitable donation to help ensure your kindness gets to those who need it most.

Check to see if the charity is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization by the government (the designation means the organization has been set up for charitable purposes). Click here to search a listing of charities in the U.S.

Check the Better Business Bureau Web site for information about the charity's mission, compensation, expenses and rating.

Guidestart.org can also help you find some of the top rated charities and direct links to make donations. If you are especially concerned about what percentage of donations is spent on overhead instead of supported causes, Guidestar will also provide the most recent Form 990s so you can calculate what percentage of donation goes to overhead.

Do a little research online to see if there are postings, concerns or adverse ratings about the charity you are considering donating to. A lot of negative comments online could mean the charity is not what they represent themselves to be.

When in doubt, give to a charity you are familiar with, such as the American Red Cross or your local community foundations or religious organizations. There are a lot of organizations who are already headed to Haiti to help those in need and could use your support.