Christmas is a time for giving back, but it is important to know that charities are using your donations appropriately.

 Jill Olynyk with Calgary Health Trust says donors value transparency.

"It's really important because people want to know that the donations they are making very generously are going to the cause and that they understand that cause and the impact it's going to have. So the greater the transparency of a charity, the easier it is for that prospective donor to get that information and better understand the charity."

Olynyk recommends a number of resources for prospective donors to ensure they are donating to trustworthy charities.

"They can go to Imagine Canada. There is a website that's www.guidetogiving.ca, so a really easy way to go. They can go to a charity's website which has a whole lot of information. Revenue Canada Agency provides information on charities."

At the very least, Olynyk says prospective donors should pick up the phone and ask questions of the charities they are wanting to give to.

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