As someone who was born in Kathmandu, Nepal and with many relatives still living there, I felt jarred into action by the devastating earthquake that struck last month. I had always held some interest in charitable giving, but the earthquake served as a wakeup call.

I realized if people like me don’t reach out and provide help, then no one will. I also realized if the tables were turned, I would be praying for someone to help me obtain clean water, medicine and at least a tarp or a tent, if not a mattress to sleep on.

This wakeup call motivated me to look into responsible charitable giving in a more serious manner. One of my hesitations around charitable giving came from not knowing if my money would genuinely be used to help those in need. I didn’t want my hard-earned dollars to be frittered away through bribing corrupt officials, overpaying nonprofit executives or general mismanagement.

However, there’s a difference between being prudent with your giving and being stingy. Our concerns about how our donations are used shouldn’t prevent us from giving anything at all. Instead, we must embrace the responsibility of making sure we’re donating to trustworthy, well-managed organizations with a strong history of delivering results.

In that sense, donating to charity is no different than investing in a stock, buying a home, buying a car or even purchasing a television. All of these endeavors require us to do our homework to know we’re getting the best value for our money. In the case of giving to charity, that value comes from the lives that we’re able to change.

Ready to start giving? Here are a few suggestions on how you can be sure your donations are being used responsibly. These tips are universally applicable. You could give to earthquake survivors in Nepal or to important causes here at home: finding cures for diseases, protecting animals in the environment or any other cause you’re passionate about.

1. Research the organization.

Websites such as Charity Navigator, GiveWell, GuideStar, Philanthropedia and the Better Business Bureau’s Giving Alliance make it easy to research the organization you are considering donating to. Each website issues an independent third-party report about the group’s management capabilities, efficacy and results. Some organizations have an excellent track record of saving or aiding thousands of lives. Other organizations might be well-intentioned, but need improvement.

2. Give to local groups.

Some people love the idea of donating to a very large organization that has a strong reputation and several decades of history. The American Red Cross, American Heart Association or the Make a Wish Foundation are well-known for a reason. Others prefer to give to small local organizations where they can visibly see the effects their dollars have on the group’s effort.

For example, maybe you want to support stray dogs and cats. Giving money to a local independent animal shelter can allow you to see your dollars being used in your own community.

You might even know what your money was specifically used for. Perhaps it funded one month of veterinary treatments, one month of rent or two months of food for the shelter animals.

Understanding exactly what your donation has done can make a big difference. Since smaller local organizations tend to have smaller budgets, you also have the satisfaction of knowing your donation comprised a bigger slice of the pie.

For example, a local group running on a budget of $100,000 per year might view a $2,000 donation as a mini-game changer. It might allow them to finally replace a broken air conditioning unit. It could pay the salary of a summer intern. It could cover the cost of spaying and neutering every animal in the shelter.

3. Consider sponsoring a specific person (or animal).

If you want to get a closer look at how your money is being used, consider sponsoring one specific family, child or animal. You can take a hands-on approach and care for a foster dog or cat while it’s waiting for permanent adoption. Alternatively, you could also create a scholarship to see the impact your dollars make on one specific student.

The more you narrow the scope of your efforts, the greater an impact you’ll make on one or two lives. Sometimes that can be the most satisfying experience of all.

4. Don’t forget about in-kind donations.

An in-kind donation is any particular item or material a group may need. If you own a hardware store, you could donate windows or doors to a group like Habitat for Humanity. If your pets are finicky eaters, you can give unopened bags of cat or dog food to a local animal shelter.

These in-kind donations can greatly benefit charitable groups, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing precisely what impacts your gift has made. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you take action. Give to a large or small organization or make a cash or in-kind donation. Any action is better than inaction. Choose a form of giving that speaks to you and donate today.

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How to Give to Charity Without Getting Scammed originally appeared on usnews.com