Look at each charity's description and find the nonprofits that fit your criteria.
Evaluate how the charity defines its goals and evaluates its own performance. An effective charity has specific, measurable goals and uses concrete criteria to describe its achievements.
Avoid charities that won't share information or that pressure you. Reputable nonprofits discuss their programs and finances, avoid pressure tactics and are willing to send you literature about their work.
Trust your instincts. If you have doubts about a charity, don't contribute to it.
Source: GuideStar, a nonprofit organization that offers information about the programs and finances of more than 1.5-million IRS-recognized nonprofits.
TO DONATE MONEY
Specify donations for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
American Red Cross, 1-800-435-7669, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. On the Web at www.redcross.org Catholic Charities USA, 1-800-919-9338, Hurricane Katrina, P.O. Box 25168, Alexandria, VA 22313-9788. On the Web at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org Christian Contractors Association, 1-800-278-7703, 2009 S Broad St., Brooksville, FL 34604. On the Web at www.ccaministry.org Church World Service, 1-800-297-1516, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515. On the Web at www.churchworldservice.org
Convoy of Hope, 1-800-988-0664 or 417 823-8998, 330 S Patterson, Springfield, MO 65802. On the Web at www.convoyofhope.org Emergency Animal Rescue Services (the disaster rescue program of United Animal Nations), (916) 429-2457, P.O. Box 188890, Sacramento, CA 95818. On the Web at www.uan.org Episcopal Relief and Development/U.S. Hurricane Relief Fund, 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129, P.O. Box 12043, Newark, NJ, 07101-5043. On the Web at www.er-d.org Florida Baptist Convention, 1-800-226-8584, Attention: Baptist Men's Department, Hurricane Disaster Relief, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207.
Florida Conference United Church of Christ, (407) 835-7501, 924 N Magnolia Ave., Suite 250, Orlando, FL 32803.
Lutheran Disaster Response, 1-800-638-3522, 8765 W Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631. On the Web at www.elca.org Mennonite Disaster Service, 717 859-2210, 1018 Main St. Akron, PA 17501. On the Web at www.mds.mennonite.net Presbyterian Church, 1-800-872-3283, Attention: PCUSA, Individual Remittance Processing, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15624-3700. Write on check: #000169. On the Web at www.pcusa.org Salvation Army, 1-800-725-2769, Salvation Army Headquarters, P.O. Box 269, Alexandria, VA 22313 with a note "Katrina Disaster relief." On the Web at www.salvationarmyusa.org Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, (770) 410-6133, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368. On the Web at www.namb.net/dr Make checks payable to: NAMB.
United Methodist Committee on Relief, 1-800-554-8583, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Use advance #982410. On the Web at www.umcor.org United Way, Tampa Bay 813 274-0900 or (727) 535-3545, 1000 N Ashley Drive Suite 800, Tampa, FL, 33602. On the Web at www.uwtb.org Or donate at any SunTrust bank branch.
Multimedia: Continuing fallout