Giving to charity is a great way to give back to others that are less fortunate. Unfortunately, scammers and thieves use charities as a front to snatch your hard-earned money and take advantage of your generosity.

This year, be smart about which charity you give to. You will need to do some research, and you can start with Charity Navigator.

It rates thousands of charities around the country for financial health, accountability and transparency. These are calculated according to the charity's tax returns and put into charts, so you can see a financial breakdown and how much money actually went to the cause you are supporting.

There is also a Tips and Resources section if you need further assistance picking out a charity or want to learn how to avoid charity cheats.

charitynavigator.org