How do you choose - there are so many good ones?

I only donate to charities, local and distant, where I can see where my money goes.

The local air ambulance which frequently flies over our house, the RNLI, and I sponsor a Guide Dog in memory of our beloved Sasha. Come the new year, I will also start to sponsor a Hearing Dog.

I support 5 charities all year round and always look for one to give a one off donation to at Christmas. One thing I always ask for the one off is 'how much of my donation will be used for admin charges'? most of my charities are animal ones, something close to my heart, although I do support Water Aid, clean drinking water should be everyone's right, and I support Lifeboats. I live by the sea and these volunteers risk their lives daily. All my other charities are animal ones. Last year and the year before I paid for 2 persons meals at Crisis for Christmas plus a donation to the Hillside Animal rescue. this year I may go out and buy warm clothing to give to our street sleepers, we have so many here. Maybe thermal undies or something. Haven't quite decided.

I change every year. Last year was guide dogs this year a local hospice

Local homeless shelter by buying stuff from their A*****n wish list when I can afford it.
Also bale of hay for animal shelter.
I really like the RNLI and like to get my cards from them but this year noticed that part of the cost is for 'taxes'. I thought charities were tax exempt so haven't bought my cards yet.
Otherwise just for disaster appeals.

I have a monthly direct debit to the charity closest to my heart, then do others as/when. So many of the tv appeals are so heartbreaking but of course we cannot donate to them all. The billions that have gone into Africa over the years, LiveAid etc it just seems that nothing ever changes, still so much poverty and hardship.

I make a choice based on ones where I've had personal experience, such as the Motor Neurone Disease Association or the local hospice.
If this isn't relevant to you I'd look at reading about people who've been helped by the good work that people do and pick one or two which touched my heart.

I have DDs to RNLI, KSSAIR, Salvation Army and volunteer at Crisis, Sams and collect for RBL in November. No Red Nose day, Children In Need, nothing else.

I do not give to charities that has a CEO earning a vast wage. I support certain medical conditions because I worked as a nurse and I also support RNLI as DH's work involved ships and the sea.
Any charity that rings me and asks me to increase my donations gets taken off my list.

After a TV appeal by an international charity, showing the desperate plight of children in Yemen, I texted a donation. After that, as they had my mobile number, they started phoning me and, as I donate regularly by DD, to MSF and one other charity, I wasn't prepared to take on another regular commitment, but they kept ringing. As this gave me their phone number, I then blocked it. Badgering tactics, trying to wear down donors, is, IMO, counter-productive.

DH and I have always been grateful for our sight and as we both love dogs have supported Guide Dogs for years. I also supported Sight Savers so one home charity one abroad. Recently our lovely son in law has developed pancreatic and liver cancer so I have changed some of my giving to Pancreatic Cancer UK- among all the cancers this is the one that strikes most terror for me remembering my nursing days and the severity and speed of this disease. I was also approached by the most charming couple of men in Sainsburys re the Air Ambulance and a dear neighbour who recently died wanted any donations in remembrance of him to f
go there so I did that as well. My charity in 2019 as Lady Captain of our golf club is Help for Heroes- we live quite near the DNRC Stamford Hall so its a local one.

I like to give to smaller charities as they often get left out.

I think you need to support a charity you feel strongly about but also where you can see your contribution is making a difference. Another good idea is to ask a local charity what they need and support that particular purchase

The easy choice is one national or local charity and one international charity.

Small local charities and Barnardos and Salvation Army.

I give regularly to several charities - and at Christmas send a one off donation to Crisis at Christmas. This year I've given to help children in Syria - many are ill, hungry and have lost their families. I agree with others, that you just have to give where your heart calls you - there is no other way I can think of to make the choice.

We give to a local children's hospice. I have given £10 per month to the NSPCC and also £4 to the RNIB - I was pressured into that one by a phone call from them but hey ho it's a good cause.

McMillan and the Blue Cross on a monthly basis and St John's Ambulance quarterly - I do give to some of the disaster funds and the Alzheimers periodically too.

"Mary's Meal's" for me too. I believe only 4% goes on admin costs, because they use volunteers. It's still based in Argll, where it first started, no fancy offices and high salaries.
It's a cause close to my heart. Feeding children and educating at the same time. A way out of poverty for them.

I have always supported a few local charities as well as the Air Ambulance. One has to draw the line somewhere I am afraid.
Then some years ago I read about Deki on GN. Through them I lent a modest amount to an African woman needing a sewing machine to set up a business to fund her childrens' food and schooling. You can lend as little as £10 to much more. When the full amount needed has been raised the entrepreneur works and repays the loan. I have been repaid and re-lent my initial amount (plus some extra donations) many times over.
www.deki.org.uk/how-deki-works/

We donate monthly to our local air ambulance. Occasionally Cancer research/heart research.
I won't give to overseas charities.

Children's hospice on a regular basis. I regularly but on an ad hoc basis give money to the domestic helper who works for my SIL in South Africa, and other individuals who cross my path and need financial help. I think that's being charitable.

I support the local hospice shop by shopping there and often drop my change into the collection box. I also buy from Pdsa and do the same. At the minute I can't afford more but I do also take unwanted items to these shops from someone who would otherwise bin it, she is disabled and quite well off so I hope these things are as good as a bigger donation. In the past I have help fundraising coffee morning's for Macmillan and may do so in future

My first GC was born with a very bad cleft lip and palate.
She has received wonderful treatment from the NHS so for many years I have given to the Smile Train for treatment for children in the third world who would be ostracized by their community and whose parents cannot fund treatment.
Salvation Army is my other favourite.

I agree, small local charities are the way to go. The Salvation Army is an exception though.
Sense for blind/deaf people is a favourite of mine. I once worked with a member of their staff and she absolutely transformed life for a blind/deaf lady in a very short time.

I too donate (by DD) to Mary's Meals and Sightsavers and DEC when they have big appeals.
What I am finding frustrating is that charities now seem to be interested only in DD giving.
Several times I have gone to give a few pounds to a collector in a shopping centre only to be told that they no longer take one-off donations and are there only to sign people up for regular monthly donations.
It may be a more efficient way to fund a charity but they are missing out on many smaller donations.