Giving to good causes is a great way to help others in need as well as earn a potential tax benefit yourself. Below are a few great resources not only to ensure your contributions are going where you think they are, but also to find new charities to give to.
Here is a short article with links you can use to find and research causes you believe in.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/make-sure-your-donation-counts/index.htm
Here are the links from within the article above, for your convenience.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/
...And don't forget to keep your receipts for tax time!