Once Thanksgiving has come and gone (and sometimes even before), houses are adorned with wreaths and lights; decorated trees line the streets; people circle parking lots to find a spot; and the familiar sound of the Salvation Army bell fills the air. According to Charity Navigator, "50% of all charitable giving by individuals is done between Thanksgiving and Christmas." Unfortunately, scam artists take advantage of this outpouring of kindness. How, then, do you know if an organization is legitimate or reputable? How do you know if your money is well spent? Below are three websites that can help you determine just that.

Charity Navigator has information on over 5,000 charities and is free to use. You can enter the name of a charity in the search bar or browse organizations by category. The site lists the highest and lowest rated charities by cause and has top ten lists covering the best charities you have heard of, charities that stockpile your money, and other topics. You can find these by clicking on the Top Ten Lists tab at the top of the screen. The Hot Topics tab has a holiday giving guide--just what you need this time of year. You can also find studies, articles, and tips for giving on the site.

Give.org is also free and belongs to the BBB (Better Business Bureau) Wise Giving Alliance. According to the website, "The Alliance does not rank charities but rather seeks to assist donors in making informed judgments about charities soliciting their support." Give.org reports on national charities and organizations, so you will have to check your local Better Business Bureau for local, state, and regional charities. To find an organization, click on Charity Reports on the left side of the screen. Choose the first letter of the charity's name, then scroll through the index to find it. You can also find news, charity standards, tips for giving, and instructions for issuing a complaint against an organization.

Unlike the other sites, GuideStar.org charges for some of its services. GuideStar Premium and Select are subscription services, but GuideStar Basic is free. This site includes 1.5 million--yes, million--organizations that are either registered with the IRS or meet the criteria for exempt organizations. Using the basic service, you can verify the legitimacy of a non-profit, find out if your contribution is tax deductible, view recent IRS 990 forms, and read about an organization's mission, programs, and finances. Just enter the organization's name into the search bar. Click on GuideStar for Donors to find tips, a donor bill of rights, and tutorials for using the site.