For several years my wife donated to a fund for " State Police widows and orphans" charity that called us several times per year. After she died, I did a little checking on them -with the county Sheriff- and he found there was no such organization, at least not one that actually was a charity.
Here is a list of many more like that...
http://samuel-warde.com/...
My charity donations generally go to specific animal rescue organizations and very few others that I KNOW actually do what they say.
I have not given a dime to United Way or similar group that pressures people - through their employers - to donate, and I no longer donate to the Salvation Army since I found that a good percentage of that money goes to fund right wing political causes.
Thanks for reading this.
Have a great 2014.