5 quick tips for smart charitable giving

Charitable giving is ingrained in our culture. Americans as a percentage of gross domestic product give more than any other country. And as a result of this charitable inclination, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reports the United States has raised more than $895 million in response to the recent devastation in Haiti.

But how can we know that we are giving smartly? That our donation is being used in the best possible way and not being wasted on something we did not intend? How can giving actually help you, outside of the warm feeling you get?