If you have an idea of what specific cause you'd like to support, this site breaks your options down clearly. These organizations and other sources offer tips to consumers looking to donate to charities. They emphasize getting to know the charity you're interested in, as well as preparing for a tax deduction. The NCIB provides a list of government offices by state that register charities. Look closely at the charity's name.
Charities often sound very much alike, but their qualities are often very different.
For example, the National Children's Cancer Society meets the standards of the CBBB, but the National Childhood Cancer Foundation is lacking a governing body, which CBBB standards require. Do not give cash to any charity. Write a check made payable to the full name of the charity, not to the individual collecting the donation. Request a receipt and keep it, along with your canceled check and bank statement, for documentation at tax time. Determine the purpose of the charity.