Not that we're ready to admit it, but the holidays are just around the corner. So, it may be time to start thinking about making those end-of-the-year charitable donations. There are so many charities from which to choose, but not all are worthy of your contributions. Here are some guidelines to help you determine which charities should be a go and which a no.                                                

• Clearly understand the charity's mission - Be wary if the charity's website and brochure descriptions are vague, or if you call directly and receive ambiguous answers. From each source, you should be able to find out how the non-profit's initiatives are managed; what benchmarks were achieved in prior years; how many people benefit from its programs and how a potential client qualifies to receive its services.

• Confirm that the non-profit has 501(c)(3) status - This can easily be determined by visiting guidestar.org. The 501(c)(3) status ensures that any donation is considered a charitable one and, therefore, is tax deductible.

• Determine the charity's spending ratio - Check out charitynavigator.org, a website which provides financial data for non-profits. The most efficient charities spend at least 75% of their budgets on programs and services rather than on supplies and furniture for the office.

• Find out who is accountable - You want to be sure that there is a governing board that includes a minimum of five people, besides the CEO, who are independent from the charity. Give.org and charitynavigator.org are websites that provide this information.

Thinking about making charitable donations is just the beginning of all you'll need to do when it comes to those final months of the year. Let GoodDeeds help you with whatever needs to get done: researching charities, creating and mailing your holiday cards, decorating your home and preparing for that annual, holiday event. When it comes to taking care of all those end-of-the-year details, contacting GoodDeeds is the perfect way to start!