(MONEY Magazine) – If the stories on these pages inspire you to do something more--or simply something different--with the time and money you donate to charity, we've compiled a host of resources.

GENERAL RESEARCH

CharityNavigator.org. This site's zero-to-four-star rating system is based on financial considerations, including fund-raising efficiency.

CharityWatch.org. Search the American Institute of Philanthropy's list of 150 top-rated charities. You can get financial ratings for another 300, listed in the site's index, by sending for its Charity Rating Guide ($3).

Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov/charityfraud). Read the FTC's list of tips. Report a problem charity by clicking through to the Bureau of Consumer Protection's complaint page.

Give.org. Check to see if a charity meets standards set by the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance. You can also submit a complaint to the BBB.

GuideStar.org. This site does not rate charities, but you can search its database of more than a million nonprofits for basic financials and tax returns.

ESTABLISHING A TRUST

Special-needs trusts can be created by almost anyone, though they're typically set up by a family member. Often they are formed to let a disabled person have or inherit money and still collect Social Security and other benefits (assets over $2,000 will disqualify an adult). Working with an attorney is essential, since the trusts are complex. The complexity stretches beyond simply setting up a trust; once it's funded, there are administrative costs, annual tax returns and fiduciary responsibilities. Most of these trusts are funded upon death, either with a life insurance policy or assets; both a guardian and a trustee may be needed to serve as advocates for the person with special needs. You can tap the trust to pay for an advocate.

Pooled trusts offer distinct advantages. The nonprofit running the trust handles all of the administrative and fiduciary responsibilities and provides advocacy services. Funds are pooled with other trust deposits; each beneficiary has a subaccount but reaps the rewards of professional investment management. And anyone can contribute to a pooled trust--family, friends, even the beneficiary.

CREATING A SCHOLARSHIP

To set up a scholarship fund, you'll need to meet with a financial planner, tax accountant or estate lawyer to discuss donation options. Many charitable scholarships are funded by endowments, meaning that the grant is paid with the income generated by an initial investment. Since endowments typically pay out 5% of the fund's value every year, most experts advise starting a scholarship fund with at least $10,000, which would produce a $500 annual award.

If you want your scholarship to benefit students at a particular school, see if the school can hook you up with other scholarship donors who can share their experience and give you tips. And look for a community foundation with experience in setting up scholarship funds. (See page 148 for details on how community foundations work.)

ONLINE VOLUNTEERING

NetAid.org. Jointly sponsored by the United Nations and Cisco, the site solicits online help--such as people to write case studies--for the worldwide war on poverty.

ServiceLeader.org. Run by the University of Texas at Austin, this site offers an online guide to virtual volunteering and resources for all volunteers.

VolunteerMatch.org. This site matches volunteers with charities; you can help both online and in person.

PUTTING LAND IN TRUST

Land trusts are nonprofits that conserve open space by buying land, accepting donations of land or helping with a conservation easement. With a conservation easement, a landowner gives up the right to develop his or her property but still owns it and can use it and pass it on to heirs.

--There are substantial tax incentives for donating land or development rights, including a break on income, estate and property taxes. The incentives vary by state; be sure to consult your tax adviser.

--To learn more about land issues and to find an established land conservation trust in your area, go to the Land Trust Alliance's site (lta.org).

VOLUNTEERING IN RETIREMENT

CivicVentures.org. This group promotes public sevice and volunteer activities among older Americans. Check out the links to Experience Corps, the country's largest service program for older adults.

Elderhostel.org. To help retirees figure out where they want to direct their energies, this group provides classes, trips and short-term volunteer opportunities worldwide, ranging from museum curating to constructing affordable housing. Open to anyone 55 or older.

North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement (unca.edu/ncccr). The college for seniors at the University of North Carolina in Asheville is another place to explore new avenues, both in volunteering and through classes ranging from foreign affairs to yoga. Retirement exploration weekends are held throughout the year.

PeaceCorps.gov. About 7% of Peace Corps volunteers are 50 and older. You must make a commitment to serve 27 months in one of 74 countries; a small stipend is provided.

Score.org. Retired and working entrepreneurs in 389 offices across the country provide free face-to-face or online counseling to small business owners.

DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS

With this type of fund, you contribute a certain amount of money (usually at least $10,000) to a fund that is invested in a pool of stocks and bonds, much like a regular mutual fund. Because the fund qualifies as a charity, your contribution is tax deductible for the year you contribute--up to 50% of your adjusted gross income for cash; for securities, up to 30% of fair market value. You can then direct the fund to give a portion of your money to specific causes; the balance will continue to grow. You're not legally required to give a set yearly amount, but most fund sponsors have guidelines to ensure that account owners remain active givers.

Although these funds are sponsored by both community foundations and financial services firms, look first to foundations. Their donor-advised fund expenses are generally lower, about 1% or so, compared with more than 2% at funds offered by many financial services firms. Exceptions are funds sponsored by Vanguard (vanguardcharitable .org) and T. Rowe Price (programforgiving.org). At community foundations, individual donors can get advice and help in choosing charities. To find one near you, go to cof.org/locator.

MENTORING AND FAITH-BASED VOLUNTEERING

If you're interested in being a mentor, you can find leads at the following three sites.

Bbbsa.org. The 100-year-old Big Brothers Big Sisters of America organization serves hundreds of thousands of children in 5,000 communities across the country.

Mentoring.org. The advocacy group Mentor/National Mentoring Partnership matches adults to mentoring opportunities and provides online training.

If you'd like to create a program at your place of worship, get a head start with these sites.

FaithInAction.org. This program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation makes grants to local groups of faith that volunteer to care for neighbors with long-term health needs.

Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (FBCI). The White House has set up FBCI in seven federal agencies to help grass-roots leaders compete for federal dollars, increase private support and cut through red tape. For links to several mentoring opportunities, go to the Administration for Children and Families site (acf.hhs.gov/programs/fbci).

GIVING CIRCLES

These clubs encourage members to learn about a wide range of charitable groups and to pool donations in order to have greater impact. Some tips:

--Decide how much each member wants to contribute; some groups may decide to set a floor, like the Daily Muses' dollar a day.

--Opening a separate bank account under the giving circle's name allows members to donate more anonymously without influencing the vote on where the contributions go.

--Take advantage of templates on sites like Givingnetwork.org. It offers a free, downloadable giving-circle starter kit, along with examples of how different giving circles structure their groups and their giving.

--For tax purposes, be sure to get an individual receipt for your donations. When the giving circle makes the gift, it should ask the charity for separate receipts for all of the members. Most giving circles simply divide credit for the donation evenly among the members.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MEGAN JOHNSTON