Spend a Little…Save a Little…Give a Little
A well balanced approach to your budget should give you the opportunity to make a difference in your community and make a difference in the world. Hopefully the tips and tricks that I’ve taught you will enable you to do great things with some of the money that you save! If you can’t give your hard earned dollars, please consider donating your time or expertise to cause that you are passionate about. The following resources are an excellent starting point to help you choose a signature charity for you and your family.

	GuideStar's mission is to revolutionize philanthropy and nonprofit practice by providing information that advances transparency, enables users to make better decisions, and encourages charitable giving. This simple search is for users who want to verify a nonprofit's legitimacy, learn whether a contribution will be tax deductible, view a nonprofit's recent Forms 990, or find out more about its mission, programs, and finances. Thanks to the generosity of a number of foundations, GuideStar Basic is available at no charge to users. Although you must register, the basic service is free of charge. www.guidestar.org
	A "razoo" is a coin of the smallest value. The folks at Razoo believe that it doesn't take millions of dollars to make a difference—the greatest opportunities for change lie in the hands of "everyday philanthropists" who want to use their resources for the benefit of others. Their donation platform offers an unmatched catalog of giving opportunities, secure and convenient donation processing, and a suite of tools to help you understand and manage your giving. Susan Johnson recently featured the advice of the Gift Therapist in her new article “The Giving Gift: When to Give a Charitable Donation as a Present.” Click here to read it now! www.razoo.com
	GreatNonprofits is a place to find, review, and talk about great -- and perhaps not yet great -- nonprofits. You already know that reviews by other people who have gone to a restaurant or tried out a doctor are the best way to find out about the quality of those services. If you have direct experience with a nonprofit, GreatNonprofits makes it easier for you to share your knowledge so that other people can discover the great nonprofits that are out there. Much like Amazon book reviews or consumer reviews site the reviews and ratings are posted by people who have been touched by a nonprofit and want to share their story about it. You'll see on our site stories of people who have volunteered for or donated to nonprofits and stories of people who have received services. www.greatnonprofits.com
	VolunteerMatch is a leader in the nonprofit world dedicated to helping everyone find a great place to volunteer. VolunteerMatch is helping transform the landscape of nonprofit outreach—connecting good people directly with good causes, and providing access to an entirely new generation of volunteers who are eager to contribute. Since 1998, volunteers have generated just over 3.4 million matches to the 56,784 local nonprofits registered with VolunteerMatch. www.volunteermatch.com