Originally published on Yahoo Finance.
Many of us worry that the hard-earned dollars we give to charity might end up in a board member’s pocket, or in some organization’s marketing budget. That is why it is important to choose carefully when deciding who should get your charitable dollars.
Since 1992, CharityWatch — formerly known as the American Institute of Philanthropy — has monitored charities in the U.S. by combing through financial documents and rigorously assessing how effectively charities use donations.
Following are some organizations that get high marks from CharityWatch. Knowing that you are giving to a worthy organization can eliminate some money stress and give you confidence that your donation will have a real impact.
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- Friends of Animals
Grade: A+
Amount spent on programs relative to overhead: 94%
Cost to raise $100: $3
Since its founding in 1957, Friends of Animals has successfully funded 2.8 million neuter and spay procedures.
In the decades since its founding, the organization has expanded its focus to include climate initiatives, sanctuaries for exotic pets, and legislative campaigns.