Before you give to charities or respond to cold calls for donations this season, take a look at this and maybe print it out and leave it near the phone if you expect many calls from fundraisers.
http://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/charities/Charities_CFAR-2010.pdf
Some of them are in negative numbers (it cost the charity more than the call center raises.)
I get calls every year for firefighter and police fundraisers and can never tell which organization actually benefits either group. Does anyone know?