Giving Compass' Take:

• Kathleen Kelly Janus shares advice for philanthropists to improve the impact of your philanthropy in the holiday giving season. 

• What issue do you want to focus on this year? What nonfinancial contributions can you make?

• Learn how to find your focus to increase your impact. 

Nearly 31% of all philanthropic giving happens in the month of December. Yet all too often, donors make decisions about their contributions based on their good intentions as opposed to rigorous research.

Here are three ways that you can be more effective in your end-of-year giving to maximize your impact.

1. Research an organization’s performance: A recent study showed that while 85% of donors say a charity’s performance is important, only 35% conduct research on giving, and just 2% give based on a group’s performance. And yet, my research shows that one of the key indicators of whether an organization will be successful is whether the nonprofit tracks its performance.

2. Make sure that you contribute unrestricted dollars: By some estimates, 80% of philanthropic contributions in the U.S. are restricted. What does this mean? It means the money is given on the condition that it’s only used for specific services. This would be like going into a restaurant and saying, “I’ll pay for the food, but I’m not paying for the time for the chef to prepare it, or the salary of the server to bring it to me.”

3. Don't just give money, give time: Finally, one of the most effective ways that you can make an impact is by giving not just your money but your time. For example, 97% of millennials say they want to apply their work skills to volunteering. This is a huge opportunity for companies to harness their employees’ talents for good.

Read the full article about making the most of your December giving by Kathleen Kelly Janus at FastCompany.