If you’re fortunate enough to be able to donate money this year, plenty of causes need your attention.

In a year like 2020, choosing where to direct your dollars is like picking your favorite child. Should your money go toward nonprofits providing basic needs, organizations fighting for social justice or a campaign to help local small businesses stay afloat? If you prefer donating your time, how do you give back when volunteer events are limited by the pandemic?

Here’s a guide to prioritizing your donations, taking advantage of special tax deductions for 2020, and giving and using your holiday spending to make a difference.

This year, in addition to helping those in need, you may be eligible to receive added tax benefits for your donations.

As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, taxpayers who take the standard deduction are allowed an additional deduction of up to $300 for charitable donations made in cash. Previously, charitable contributions could only be deducted if taxpayers itemized.

Choosing which cause to support is deeply personal. If you haven’t already, make a list of your values and what you’re grateful for. This list is the basis for your giving plan that can help you determine which causes to prioritize and which ones you can say no to.

Early in the pandemic, you may have committed small acts of generosity such as buying gift cards to support your local coffee shop or paying your hairstylist when the salon was shut down.

Keep the community spirit going, says Eileen Heisman, president and CEO of National Philanthropic Trust, a public charity that manages donor-advised funds. “I’m a big fan of small grassroots charities,” she says. “A lot of everyday neighborhood arts organizations, small ones, are disappearing.”

Read the full article about smart and effective giving by Amrita Jayakumar at TheStreet.