Something Understood

For the new year, C and I are thinking about joining, or donating to, some charities, especially in light of our road trip through California, Nevada, and Arizona (and yesterday's day-trip to the Marin Headlands). Where to begin, though, when there are so many nonprofits, and some are more effective than others. I've found a couple of guides, and I'll list them here. Send me more if you find them, and I'll put them up.

• Network For Good (search for charities, donate, and volunteer)
• Charity Navigator
• Give.org (run by the Better Business Bureau)
• American Institute of Philanthropy
• GuideStar (requires registration)
• Mother Jones magazine guide to environmental non-profits