Charity during the holidays is a wonderful way to share the spirit of giving with your kids. But how do you carve out donations from a tight budget? By prioritizing spending, researching charities and involving the whole family, says Beth Kobliner, author of Get a Financial Life, member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability and mom of three.

Work “giving” into your holiday budget. Be realistic about how much to donate this year, says Kobliner. Decide ahead what you can afford to spend overall on the holidays. Then break down how much goes to gifts, travel, parties and philanthropy. If you’re really squeezed and can only spare $20 for charity, write the check and be proud. “That money still makes a difference, whether the organization is big or small,” says Kobliner. No cash to spare? Donate time instead. Search for organizations that need helpers, even pint-size ones, at volunteermatch.org or serve.gov. Children will learn they can help with their hands as well as their dollars.

Let kids play philanthropist. Once you decide how much you can give, earmark a bit for your kids’ charity choices. or give them a little extra allowance just for donating. Kids get more excited about giving and will keep doing it over the long haul if they have some control over where their money goes. “Heifer International (heifer.org) is a big hit with my kids,” says Kobliner. “It lets you buy livestock—say, a sheep, to be kept for its milk or wool—for a struggling family in a poor country. That’s something even a 5-year-old can get excited about, and it may even appeal to your animal-loving or vegetarian teen.”

Check out charities. Especially if you can’t give a lot this year, make sure your chosen charity will use every penny wisely. Review free “accredited charity” reports from the better business bureau (bbb.org/charity-reviews/national). Or scan charity navigator.org for organizations with at least three stars, meaning a good part of funds goes to programs, rather than overhead.

If you want a tax deduction for your gift, be sure the organization is “qualified tax-exempt” by the IRS (nonprofits, yes; your son’s baseball team, probably not). Find out by typing the name into the “Exempt Organizations Select Check” tool at irs.gov. Donate by December 31, save your receipt or canceled check, and remember you need to itemize tax deductions if you want to write off donations. Bottom line: you can feel good that your hard-earned cash is working for you—and the greater good.