What Charities Do I Give To This Christmas?

Are you overwhelmed at all of your options for donations this holiday season? I'm on plenty of mailing lists of organizations I've donated to in the past. I wonder sometimes where the best places are to spend my money and how the organizations are going to use it. I have limited funds so I want the most bang for my buck!

Charity Navigator will calm your concerns and help you find the organization that best fits your desires and interests. Some organizations I would recommend you consider during this month of Generosity:

Heifer International Gift Catalog goal is to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. This simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief caught on and has continued for over 60 years. Read about how they encourage those that receive sources of food to 'pass on the gift.' (I like this tangible gift that you can give to someone on the other side of the world that can sustain them, instead of a one time gift, and then they can learn how to give to others.)

You probably think you know everything the Salvation Army does, but surprisingly it's a lot more than the band, ringing bells at red kettles, and the Angel Tree. If you or your family have been impacted by the recent hurricanes, then you know what the Salvation Army can do.

You can donate to your local Salvation Army chapter or even start your own virtual red kettle. It's really simple. There are other creative ways to donate to the Salvation Army, like giving your unused airline miles.

Want an easy way to spread the Word? Empower the American Bible Society to pass out Bibles all over the world. You could change someone's life like Mei Changlan, who at 85 is one of the 42 million people in China that have received a Bible and Christ. Read her story and the impact the American Bible Society is having in China.