Forty billionaires pledged to donate to charities with hope of inspiring others to donate. While the amount might be less, you can still give like a billionaire by researching charities before making donations.

Evaluating a charity’s effectiveness is more than just looking at fundraising and administrative costs. Transparency, impact and accountability are also important factors to consider. Your Better Business Bureau can help by providing detailed charity reports. Visit www.bbb.org or call (937) 222-5825 or (800) 776-5301. You can also get a list of BBB Accredited Charities and look for the BBB Charity Seal on materials and Web sites, indicating nonprofits have met BBB’s 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Here are more tips to help you give like a billionaire:

• Request written information about charities, such as recent annual reports and financial statements.

• Don’t be fooled by names closely resembling those of well-known organizations.

• Watch out for appeals focusing solely on problems and not clearly explaining what charities intend to do. Charities’ activities should be clearly described.

• Be sure newly-established charities can realistically follow through on objectives.

• Don’t be pressured into giving immediately or allowing runners to pick up your contribution. Legitimate nonprofits will allow time to make decisions and welcome money whenever it’s sent.

• Ask if your contribution is tax deductible. Tax exempt means the organization doesn’t pay taxes. Tax deductible means you can deduct contributions on your tax return.

• Keep donation records with receipts, canceled checks and bank statements to document giving at tax time.

• Pay by check or money order made out to names of charitable organizations, not people collecting donations.

• Know it’s against the law for charities to demand payment for unordered merchandise or send appeals disguised as bills or invoices.

• Never give credit card numbers or other personal information to telephone or e-mail solicitations. Researching charities fully beforehand will help ensure your money’s going to worthy causes.

John North is president and CEO of the Dayton Better Business Bureau.