What to Look for When Giving to a Charity

It's the season of giving, so I thought this might help you make a more educated decision when determining where you want to donate.

www.CharityNavigator.org is a great site for getting a breakdown on how your desired charity spends money. I personally like to give to charities that spend 80% or more on their programs.

For instance, one of my favorite charities, The Gary Sinise Foundation, spends 89% of their donations on program expenses.

501(c)(3) organizations are required to make their financial information available to the public, and Charity Navigator compiles it all in one place for you for many organizations. If your desired charity is not on here, request their financials to review.

Trusting that your hard earned money is really being used optimally is very important, especially when your heart is connected to a cause. Do your due diligence.