Over the holidays do you find your mailbox stuffed with solicitations from charities• This year, The American Institute of Philanthropy ( charitywatch.org ) is warning that we should expect an even greater onslaught of such pleas. I don't mind. If you're like me, you're glad to contribute, especially if you think your gift might make a difference. Unfortunately, there are dangers associated with charitable solicitations; one, the charity might not really exist and two, the bulk of the money collected might end up going to the fund-raisers rather than to the charity. That I do mind. Here are some guidelines for making a smart charitable gift. First, make sure you are familiar with the charity. Copycat organizations exist with names almost identical to well-known, well-regarded charities. Second, find out what percentage the charity spends on programs versus fund-raising and administrative costs. Don't discover after the fact that your money is paying off an organization's debt rather than going to help homeless kids. A common rule of thumb: no more than 40 percent should be spent on administrative costs. You can check financial information of 850 thousand nonprofit organizations by going to Guidestar.org on the Internet. Another excellent research tool is Wisegiving Alliance ( www.give.org ) the watchdog group that evaluates the finances of 450 national charities. The National Institute of Philanthropy issues warnings about scams and any fraudulent behavior. In response to a contribution, some charities skip the thank-you stage and immediately send you another solicitation. Keep track of how much and how often you've given by writing a check. (Your cancelled check also will come in handy when preparing your tax return.) Of course, most charities are honorable and above-board. They need and appreciate your gift. So when those solicitations arrive, read carefully and give generously.

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