Research That Charity

...can be difficult. You want to direct your charitable work (including pro bono) and dollars into those that are effective. Sad to say, there are reports of fake charities using veterans as just another come-on. On the other hand, a charity with high administrative costs may just need your hands-on assistance to turn itself around. Do the research and help wisely.

Here's a few suggestions. And, please, send be feedback on the usefulness of the below so I can provide better information!

Sites that help evaluate charities:

• State Offices that Regulate Charities: http://www.nasconet.org/agencies
• You can look up an organization's IRS Form 990 here: http://www.guidestar.org/
  
• Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance: http://www.give.org/ (requires free registration)
• The Motley Fool has some fairly objective advice here: http://www.fool.com/foolu/askfoolu/2002/askfoolu020103.htm
• The American Institute of Philanthropy's http://www.charitywatch.org rates a few veterans' organizations here: http://www.charitywatch.org/toprated.html#veterans
• National Center for Charitable Statistics (a program of the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy (CNP) at the Urban Institute): http://nccs.urban.org/
• Charity Navigator:http://www.charitynavigator.org
• I got some of these links from 'GiveSpot' at http://www.givespot.com/research/evaluatecharities.htm