My mother works for the United Way out of Hartford. I mentioned this discussion to her so she would think that I talk about than beer and boobies. Here is what she said.
- First and most obviously, figure out a cause/service that appeals to you.
- Are you looking for direct service (i.e. food pantry), advocacy (lobbying Congress) or research (cure cancer)
- In Connecticut, call 211, who will then give you a list of agencies to check
out that meet your needs.
Make sure the charity is legitimate:
http://www.charitynavigator.comAlso check out the charity\'s 990 Form at
Find and check a charity using Candid's GuideStar. Look up 501(c)(3) status, search 990s, create nonprofit organizations lists, and verify nonprofit information.
which will tell you if they are financial viable. This will tell you (among other things) what percentage of your money will go to the program and not administration/advertising/fund raising expenses. 75% is considered a good percentage.
Mom\'s got a full 20-minute presentation if you care that much.