Uncle Al doesn’t need another tie. Grandma loves slippers, but her wardrobe is overflowing with them. What to get the person with everything this holiday season? Consider donating to charity on behalf of a family member or friend.

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The United States has more than 1.54 million charities, according to the National Philanthropic Trust. But how do you choose an organization to donate to? First, the charity must reflect the interests of the recipient. For example, Uncle Al could be a veteran who has always supported causes for the benefit of military personnel or their families. Do you remember all the theater productions Grandma took you to when you were a child? Maybe a gift to an arts organization would delight her.

Then, once you’ve identified a potential organization, you can turn to one of the rated websites that provide more detailed information about charities to help you determine their finances, activity, and legitimacy. These include the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator and Candid’s GuideStar.

Want to make a charitable contribution instead of giving a gift this holiday season? Here are a few organizations to check out, broken down by category, as a starting point, but keep in mind that there are thousands of national and local charities out there that could delight the person you are donating on behalf of.

Animals

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Arts

• The Actors Fund helps people working in the performing arts and entertainment who are in urgent need of help paying for basic expenses such as food and medicine. The organization says it has provided more than $ 24 million in aid to 17,000 beneficiaries since the start of the pandemic.

• RxART installs artwork in children’s hospitals to provide enriching experiences for young people, their families and staff at no cost to the institutions.

• TDF strives to make live performance accessible to everyone.

• Based in Los Angeles, Inner-City Arts gives students the opportunity to work with professional teachers in the visual, performing and media arts.

Children

• Make-A-Wish makes wishes come true for children with critical health conditions, designed to spark optimism and determination in children and their families.

• Shoes That Fit strives to provide athletic shoes to children in need so that they can “go to school with dignity and joy”.

• No Kid Hungry works to end child hunger in the United States

• CEDARS, based in Nebraska, which helps children in crisis, including children who cannot stay at home due to abuse or neglect.

• The Children’s Health Fund promotes access to health care for children and provides support in disasters and public health crises.

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Military / Veterans

• K9s For Warriors aims to improve the lives of military veterans who have suffered a head injury, suffer from PTSD or have suffered other trauma by pairing them with a trained service dog.

• The Gary Sinise Foundation offers a variety of support programs for veterans, active duty military personnel, first responders and their families.

• Soldiers’ Angels strives to “provide aid, reassurance and resources to service members, veterans and their families,” the organization says.

• Honor Flight Network honors veterans with an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC, to visit national memorials.

Elders

• Meals On Wheels America provides nutrition and a “friendly volunteer visit,” the organization says.

• The Alzheimer Foundation of America supports individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and also funds research.

• Second Wind Dreams helps seniors make some of their long-held dreams come true. The group says it achieves 2,400 dreams a year.

• Pets for the Elderly Foundation has a dual purpose: to provide companionship to the elderly and to save the lives of pets in shelters.

• The National Council on Aging works to improve the lives of older Americans in a number of ways. The organization claims that every dollar donated generates $ 93 in benefits for those served.

Whichever organization you choose, the recipients will likely be delighted to know that their names have been attached to a worthy cause benefiting others. Donating online is easy, so you have plenty of time to choose the perfect charity.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Charitable Donations To Consider As Giveaways This Holiday Season