The holidays are that generous time of year, when hearts and wallets open wide. It's not only giving gifts to family and friends, but also making charitable donations to causes we care about.

From the Red Cross to Red Rover, from food banks to foster kids, many Americans wait until December to do their charitable giving – inspired by the season, if not the tax deduction.

Charitable donations – the vast majority by individuals – hit $298.42 billion in 2011, still $11 billion below the 2007 high-water mark, according to a June study by the Giving USA Foundation and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

"When we see businesses leaving or downsizing, it has an impact on giving. Many people are still feeling conservative (about donating) and understandably so," said Dawn Lindblom, CEO of the 11-county Sacramento chapter of the American Red Cross. But, "others know how fortunate they've been and want to help out."

Last week, a nationwide effort – GivingTuesday – was launched to get Americans thinking about donating – their time, as well as their money. Coming just after the country's Black Friday/Shop Local Saturday/Cyber Monday shopping spree, the Nov. 29 donation day was a reminder to think about giving, not buying.

According to published reports, many did just that. GivingTuesday's website said $10 million in online donations were processed that day, a 53 percent spike compared with the same Tuesday a year ago.

Even a smaller organization such as the Sacramento-based Red Rover – which does animal crisis care nationwide – saw its one-day online donations double that Tuesday – from $93 in 2011 to $190 this year. Overall, the group, which set up East Coast pet shelters during superstorm Sandy, collected about $752,000 from individual donors last year.

"We haven't yet recovered (from the recession)," said Nicole Forsyth, Red Rover's president and CEO. "But it seems to be picking up."

Locally, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, an umbrella group for donors and dozens of nonprofits, says charitable donations and bequests are "starting to come back," after plunging in 2008, dropping from $18.7 million in 2007 to $3.7 million the next year. In 2012, she estimates donations totaling $4.2 million.

"People are feeling a little more flush," said foundation CEO Ruth Blank. Events such as GivingTuesday and Sacramento's own GiveLocalNow campaign, she said, "may be having an impact."

Another factor: Uncertainty over how Congress will act on taxes could motivate people to "get their tax deductions now while they can," Blank said.

If you're in a giving mood, here's some advice:

Be a savvy donor

We're bombarded with charitable appeals this time of year. Instead of donating to everyone who asks, think about which cause matters most to you: Is it neglected children? Animal welfare? Cures for cancer? Bettering the environment? Improving schools?

"Do this before you open your checkbook, volunteer your time, or look at that letter from a charity," said Charity Navigator, a charity review website.

Consider targeted giving: Rather than writing dozens of $25 checks to individual charities, make one big donation to a single cause. In some cases, the charity's cost of processing small amounts can negate your intended generosity.

Do some homework

It's easy to feel confident donating to well-known charities, such as United Way or the American Cancer Society. But what about lesser-known groups that tug at our heartstrings with letter, TV, phone or email campaigns?

To ensure that donors don't get burned, a number of organizations review charities, based on standards such as fundraising expenses, transparency, etc. Look at sites such as the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Great NonProfits and GuideStar. They let you type in the name of a charity to see how it's rated.

Another way to be a more effective donor: Ignore telephone solicitors. Many charities hire commercial fundraisers who take a hefty cut of every dollar they bring in.

Last month, the California attorney general's office reported commercial fundraisers in the state brought in $338.5 million – just 51 percent of which went to the charities.

Eliminate the middleman by donating directly through a charity's website.

When giving, don't be fooled by copycat or similar-sounding names. For instance, the Children's Defense Fund sounds a lot like the Children's Charity Fund. But, according to Charity Watch's rating system, the former gets three out of four stars, while the latter rates a zero.

Also note: You are not obligated to donate if you get free gifts from a charity – mailing labels, calendars, holiday ornaments, etc.

Beware of scammers

Among the millions of legitimate charities, there always are some bad actors. To avoid them:

• Don't give cash. When paying by check, write it to the charity, not the individual soliciting the donation.

• Be wary of phone solicitations, no matter how sincere-sounding the cause. If you're uncomfortable or feel pressured to donate, hang up. And never give credit card information to a phone solicitor.

• If a group claims it's collecting donations for police or firefighter groups, call the law enforcement agency to verify. The same goes for donations on behalf of military veterans.

Texting for dollars

Lots of charitable causes are using text-message appeals on cellphones. To ensure that texted donations are safe, the BBB this year teamed up with the Mobile Giving Foundation.

Use MobileGiving.org to confirm donations and get a tax receipt. (MobileGiving works only with one-time donations that appear on your cellphone bill.)

Keep records

If you want a tax deduction, keep a receipt, credit card statement or canceled check. Donations of $250 or more require an official receipt from the charity, noting the amount.

Be aware of the difference between "tax-exempt" (which means the charity doesn't have to pay state or federal taxes) and "tax-deductible," which means your donation can be deducted. If a group says it has "tax-exempt" status or a "tax ID number," that doesn't mean your donation is deductible.

Give from the heart

A donation doesn't have to come straight from your checkbook. Charities need your time, too. Volunteer at a food bank, dishing out meals. Give books to your local library or seniors home. Donate new diapers or formula to a crisis nursery. Check The Bee's "Our Region" section for a list of local groups that need your help this month.

There are so many reasons for seasonal giving. Find the cause that fits your budget and passions, then give what you can.

GIVING WISELY

Websites with tips on charitable donations

California attorney general's office: Oversees more than 90,000 California charities, as well as professional fundraisers. Offers donor tips, scam alerts and a list of qualified charities. www.oag.ca.gov/charities

GiveLocalNow: A regional campaign to boost giving in the four-county Sacramento region. Features donor testimonials, tips for charitable giving and links to county-by-county giving. www.givelocalnow.org

Mobile Giving Foundation: A Better Business Bureau partnership, it gives consumers how-tos on safe, secure donating via mobile phone texts. www.mobilegiving.org

GivingTuesday: A campaign by the United Nations Foundation and some 2,500 community groups to inspire consumers to donate time and money to local/national nonprofits. givingtuesday.org

Charitable donation review sites: Among the best of those offering donor tips and charity reviews/ratings:

BBB Wise Giving Alliance (bbb.org/us/Wise-Giving); www.CharityNavigator.org, www.CharityWatch.org, www.GuideStar.org and GreatNonProfits.org.

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