Use these sites to evaluate the financial health of an organization and the percentage of funds that go to the organization's mission.  Mostly useful for national level of organization.

• Charity Navigator
• Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance
• GuideStar   (This site wants you to register before giving you information).
• Charity Watch
• Forbes magazine does an annual ranking of large public charities and looks at their financial efficiency.

Read articles about local social issues:

• C-U Citizen Access a community online news and information project devoted to investigative and enterprise coverage of social justice and economic issues in east central Illinois.