We Americans will do a full third of our giving from now, through the end of the year.
Our friend Geoff Greenwood from the Iowa Attorney General's Office suggests you do a web search to be sure the charity you want to help is legit and that most of the money you donate goes to the programs they promote and not administrative costs.
To that end, he says you should use Charity Navigator, Guide Star, or Give.org that's run by the BBB.
All three can provide the answers to your charitable questions over legitimacy and their spending.