Not all NPO's are the same.  Here are some factors to consider when choosing an organization to support:  

What is the expressed purpose of the organization?  

Are they focused on finding permanent solutions or is their main focus on treating symptoms?  

Are they fighting what they don't want or are they focused on creating a desired result?  

What's their track record?   How successful have they been in the past?

Do they have an endowment fund or do they simply spend every penny they receive?

If you give them money, what portion of your donation actually goes to fulfill their publically stated intention?  

Are their activities open to public examination?  

What's in the organization's bylaws -- How is the organization structured?  

Here's an example of an organization that has a unique legal structure  --  a structure designed to seal the loopholes found in the traditional organizations: 

http://www.Medical-Marijuana-Foundation.com/mmt-company-policies.html#gr

http://www.Medical-Marijuana-foundation.com/mmt-foundation-structure.html#gr

http://www.Medical-Marijuana-Foundation.com/mmt-foundation-bylaws.html#gr     

The New Non-profit Structures and Uses?  

Why use the foundation structure:   There are three main reason for using foundations and dozens of additional reasons.   Here are the top three:  

1)   Eliminating Incredibly-Destructive Conflicts of Interest:   Foundations eliminate the conflicts of interest that are so incredibly destructive in the present corporate world.   The destruction is most obvious in the financial industry.   The home foreclosure crisis offers a clear example of how the financial corporations place profit ahead of anyone, anything, and everything else.  

2)   A major tool for the Peaceful Redistribution of Wealth:   When we bring in non-profit foundations as partners with the existing corporation or replacements for them, you quickly see that the foundations redirect the corporate earnings so that workers, customers, and the environment have equal standing with making a profit.   Money that presently goes into the vaults of the super-wealthy will flow naturally and easily to employees, customers, and to taking care of the environment. 

3)   Elimination exploitation of people, and the Environment:   Adding foundations to the present corporate management structure eliminates one of the world's major problems -- exploitation capitalism.   Our website clearly shows how non-profit foundation can eliminate the needless destruction of  exploitation of the present form of capitalism.  

We have several web page describing our new foundation structures and uses.   We suggest that you visit these pages.

http://www.Learn-From-History.com/why-use-foundations.html#53

http://www.EconomicSanity101.com/benefits-of-foundations.html#83

http://www.EconomicSanity101.com/unbridled-capitalism.html#83