Holiday giving guide on Charity Navigator

Charity Navigator is a useful resource. An independent charity evaluator in the USA, they aim to promote a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace. By evaluating the financial status of 5,400+ of America's largest charities Charity Navigator helps gives donors access to info they can use for deciding where and how to give.

They have 6 useful tips for anyone thinking a bit about how and who to give to at this holiday time.

• Seek out charities with capable leaders that are reasonably paid:
• Look for financially strong charities:
• Investigate the charity’s outcomes:
• Check for evidence of questionable ethical practices:
• Consider gifts to human services charities:
  
• Trust your charity:

besides explaining these points in more details they also offer resources for getting more information. no one wants to see their contributions go to waste!
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=975