Every week or so, when you're sifting through your mail after a long day at work, you come across another one of those cards: Some charity asking for a cut of your hard-earned paycheck to support their noble cause. And while the photo of the orphaned waif standing in front of a tin hut in Nairobi tugs at your heartstrings, you never quite know what will happen to your check once you slip it in the mail. Will it buy shoes for that little girl's feet? Or will your generous donation get swallowed up in bureaucratic expenses before that starving child sees a single shiny penny?

We're not telling you where to send your money – thousands of worthy non-profit organizations are committed to making a difference and any one of them might do great things with your donation. But if you're the sort of person who likes to see exactly what happens to your money once it leaves your wallet, we've found a few organizations where your contribution lets you take a hands-on role in improving someone else's way of life.

Want to buy a cow? How about a flock of geese, a pig, or maybe even a water buffalo? Don't worry – we realize it probably wouldn't be the smartest idea to start your own animal farm in the backyard (the neighbors may not be too fond of a buffalo munching on their flower beds). But by purchasing such animals as donations from charities like Heifer International and Oxfam International, you can provide valuable support to communities in the third world. The milk from just one cow can provide four gallons of fresh, protein-rich milk to a hungry family each day: It truly is a gift that keeps on giving.

Such donations also make perfect presents for the person who has everything – chances are, no matter how many diamond necklaces Great-Aunt Alice might have, no one's ever "given" her a crocodile before. Even if she doesn't adore it, at least she won't return your gift for store credit this time. To learn more, visit the organizations' websites: http://www.heifer.org and www.oxfam.org.

Sometimes it's hard to make a commitment to just one organization. In that case, we've found a website where you can pick and choose your causes to your heart's content.  Universal Giving isn't a charity itself – instead, it's a service that provides details about thousands of worthy nonprofits in need of support, without taking a single dime to support their own operation. With the simple online donation form, you can contribute directly to a nonprofit group in India, where $300 will finance a child's education for a full year – books, meals, and all. Or, if you're a bit light in the wallet, a mere five bucks can provide an eye exam and glasses for someone living in poverty. All the nonprofit organizations listed on the site are carefully vetted, and 100% of your donation will go towards its intended cause – no need to be concerned that you're funding any flashy brochures or Sally Struthers ads here.

And finally, if you don't even feel like donating at all, you don't have to – instead, lend out your money through a microfinance loan organization, such as www.kiva.org. With Kiva, you can hand-select a struggling entrepreneur in a third-world country from their database of applicants to loan money to (as little as $25 is fine). The business owner will use your contribution to buy much-needed supplies, and will repay the loan in full over a given period of time. We know it sounds risky, but your money is in good hands – to date, Kiva's loan repayment success rate is 99.61%. Once you've got your money back, you're free to reinvest in another business owner, letting your dollars do good all over again. It's the perfect way to make a difference in someone's life while barely making a dent in your bank account.