I don’t like to suggest charitable organizations for philanthropy because it is such a personal thing. I mean, you work HARD for your money. I think YOU should be the one to decide where the cash should go when you give it away.  

I recommend you find an organization that is doing something you are passionate about and give to them. Most charities are right in your own neighborhood. Look around and you’ll be amazed at the number of organizations that are helping people, animals and plants in your own community to survive the changing conditions every county experiences. 

However, if this doesn’t help, you can visit a great organization called www.Charitywatch.org. Daniel Borochoff is the president of this non-profit organization that keeps its fiercely independent status by having members who pay for the results of their reviews. They do not ask the charities themselves to pay for their analysis nor do they receive government or corporate grants for their work. You don’t have to buy their ratings book; they have the top 25 organizations listed on their website. Maybe you can find something there.  

Another place on the web that can help is www.give.org which is the Better Business Bureaus’ Wise Giving Alliance that helps rate different organizations.  

Between these two sites you will have many articles that you can read that give you tip sheets on how to give wisely as well as the types of questions to ask organizations before you donate.