Kiva is one of my favorite charities, and I urge you to consider it by visiting kiva.org.

Kiva is in the business of micro-finance, making small loans to entrepreneurs in third-world countries to enable them to establish and expand businesses.  Each loan is split up so that many different lenders can participate.  You can lend as little as $25.  This allows you to participate in many different loans.

When your loan is repaid, you can withdraw your funds or make another loan.  You don't get any interest on your loan--there is a local organization to be supported--but if the loan is repaid, you do get your principal back.  The repayment record is excellent.

What's great fun is the arrival of that note that one of your loans has been repaid, and the funds are available.  That's when you get to browse the site for a new loan to make!  Do you want to lend to a woman who is raising pigs in Vietnam, or to a small general store in Tajikistan?  It's a great decision to make. 

You can check out the current status of all of my loans, and see the people I've been privileged to lend to, on my lender page.