Disenchantment with Charities

I give to very few charities. Very few. In fact, the only ones I give to normally are the following:

• The Ocean Conservancy (http://www.oceanconservancy.org/)
• Fund for Animals (http://www.fundforanimals.org/)
• sometimes to Performing Animal Welfare Society (http://www.pawsweb.org/)
• and a charity for native Americans that I refuse to name because I am disgusted by them

I am angry because I recently found out that the charity I had been giving to, supposedly to help native Americans on reservations, keeps almost 80% of the donations and distributes it in salaries. Less than 20% goes to the actual people in need and this pisses me off big time. Now here's where I am WAY too trusting. I've been giving to this organization for YEARS. YEARS! I give every Thanksgiving and Christmas, and from time to time give for different fundraisers. Recently I had donated $50 to give packages of baby things to moms on the reservations. Supposedly the mom would get diapers, blankets, a baby tub and some toys. Now I realize that it's primarily a scam and I am soooooo ticked off. I wasted that money and the people I had wanted to help got very little. I don't know why stuff like this surprises me, I guess I'm just too trusting, but I did a little more research and found a place where they actually HELP the people on reservations.

http://friendsofpineridgereservation.org/

This place lists several donation events you can participate in and two of the ones I'm thinking of helping with are the following:
http://friendsofpineridgereservation.org/projects/Urgent_Supplies_for_Three_Preschool_Classes_at_Wolf_Creek_Elementary_School.shtml

and

http://friendsofpineridgereservation.org/projects/Turkey_Fundraiser_Donation_Drive.shtml

According to the different places I've researched this group actually gives ALL the purchased donations to the schools/churches and community, and they rarely ask for cash donations. I like the idea of picking out items from a list and sending them, and I'm thinking I'll pick up some diapers the next time I'm out and about and send them off. Diapers are PRICEY... very pricey.

Anyway, this holiday season I'm thinking I'm going to concentrate more on things like this rather than getting more STUFF for me. Because let's face it.. I don't really NEED more stuff. Well, Nathan always needs more stuff.. but I don't! ;-) Of course if Jeff is reading this I can always use a gift card to say... Macy's!!! Or perhaps for a pedicure!!! Hey.. I'm only human after all! ;-)

Does anyone else have any favorite charities they give to?