Charities

It’s that time of year when giving to others is especially important. The charitable giving season starts now. But with budgets tight, it's important to get the most out of your gift, and you might get more out from your contributions by giving to smaller and local organizations rather than to the big brand-name charities.
Sadly though, overall donations to charities are down. 40% of charities said they saw contributions decline in the first half of 2010 compared to 2009, according to one survey, some signs suggest givers are still supporting local charities. When times get tough people tend to shift their giving toward groups that provide basic needs, and the groups best able to meet those needs tend to be local. Of the few non-profits that saw increased contributions in 2009, many including ones like the AmeriCares Foundation, rely on donated goods such as clothing and food.
Local organizations may also be easier to give to than national groups. Meaning there’s a better shot at assessing whether a group accomplishes its aim. Before you write a check, you could visit a local animal shelter to see first hand how many kittens have been saved and placed or volunteer for a shift at the soup kitchen to see how it's run and how many people it serves nightly. "That visit is usually a pretty good indicator of whether you like what's going on." says Tim Seiler, the director of the Fund Raising School for The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
Local groups are often able to fundraise more efficiently too. Even in cases where the local charity breaks even with national or falls behind, there's an advantage to having the impact such as, more aid for the homeless or better literacy programs in your neighborhood. Local charities are better investments for your community.
Some causes though, are better served nationally. Charities for medical research and giving to the Hurricane Katrina survivors are some examples. National charities are better to make a difference quickly and distributing their contributions more effectively and quickly.
If you are one who likes to give donations you can go both ways, serve to local and national charities. Local charities are more beneficial to your own community and you have a better chance at knowing what they are doing and where your money is going. With national charities the donations are distributed more quickly and effectively. With the holidays coming up, giving any sort of donation to any charity could make someone else's holidays better.