Charitable giving involves choosing organizations and causes to support through financial donations or other contributions.
Give strategically to maximize your philanthropic impact.
1. Define Your Charitable Giving Goals
Before you give, think about what you want your gift to accomplish. Identify the causes you care most about and research to find the best charities carrying out that type of work.
Key considerations include:
- Causes or issues that matter most to you
- The type of work you want to support
- How focused or broad you want your giving to be
Taking the time to plan and create a strategic approach will give you the biggest philanthropic bang for your charitable buck.
2. Research Charities Before Donating
Researching charities can help donors understand how organizations operate and how donations are used. Reviewing this information before giving can support more informed decisions.
Key considerations include:
- How donations are spent
- Transparency of financial and program information
- Clarity of the organization’s mission and activities
Resources such as Charity Navigator, Guidestar, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance can help donors research charities. Don’t be afraid to call the charity directly and ask questions about their programs and how your money will be spent. Legitimate organizations will be happy to speak to potential new donors.
3. Plan How and When You Give to Maximize Impact
Planning your giving in advance helps balance generosity with your budget and supports consistency over time. Deciding how much to give and how often can shape the effectiveness of your contributions.
Key considerations include:
- How much you can give throughout the year
- One-time versus recurring donations
- Giving larger gifts to fewer organizations versus spreading donations
Consistent support to the same charity year after year can provide organizations with more predictable funding. For example, annual contributions allow organizations to plan programs with greater confidence rather than depending entirely on short-term fundraising.
About National Philanthropic Trust
Our mission is to increase philanthropy in society.
Founded in 1996, National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) is a public charity dedicated to advancing charitable giving and donor education in the United States.
We are dedicated to providing philanthropic expertise to enable donors, foundations and financial institutions to realize their philanthropic aspirations.
Learn more about The NPT Donor-Advised Fund—one of the most sophisticated DAFs on the market.
FAQs
Choose organizations that align with your priorities, provide clear information about how donations are used, and can answer questions about the impact of their work.
Review the organization’s financial disclosures—every non-secular nonprofit organization’s 990 tax form is available to the public via the IRS tax exempt organization search tool on their website. You should also review their program descriptions and transparency practices, usually available via their websites or annual reports, before giving.
This depends on your personal charitable goals. One-time donations offer flexibility for you to experiment with your giving, while recurring donations provide consistent support to organizations you know you intend to support regularly.
Do's and Don'ts
DAF Giving Guidance
Download our guide to help you understand when you can use your NPT DAF to support special fundraising events, scholarships or other types of charitable causes.
View PDF
Last updated: February 2026
