Smartest ways to give to charity - even in tough times

'Tis the season for giving. Unfortunately, with so many people pinching pennies, charitable donations are down as compared to 2007. In fact, 35% of charities have reported significant declines.

The timing couldn't be worse. Thanks to this financial crisis, the need is greater than ever. Requests for food have soared 50%, according to a recent Feeding America survey.

So before you decide to cut back your charitable donations, let personal finance experts Ken and Daria Dolan show you ways that you can help without breaking the bank. Learn the benefits of charitable giving and how to make the most of every dollar that you give.