Holiday Giving: Know Who Your Money Helps In Oklahoma

The holidays are upon us, which means the season of giving is here. But, before you give to charity, you might want to know where your money is going.

Oklahomans are very generous, but how can you be sure your money is going to a good cause?

One nonprofit tracks charities' accountability and transparency, and breaks down spending.

Thousands of nonprofits are in need of your donation this holiday season, but are they worthy?

Charity Navigator looks at a nonprofit's financial records and rates it, giving the most stars to those that spend 75 cents of every dollar on programs to benefit those in need.

Little Light House teaches special needs kids in Tulsa and has the highest rating - four stars.

Executive Director Jean Winfrey said, "What is it going to take to be four star? And then we went to work and provided them with all the information they wanted."

Charity Navigator has ranked 75 Oklahoma nonprofits; most have at least three stars, but Tulsa is also home to a nonprofit with a donor advisory.

1/12/2015 Related Story: Tulsa Pastor Sentenced To Prison In Fraud Case

News On 6 reported last year that Tulsa minister Willard Jones pleaded guilty to wire fraud and misappropriating more than $900,000 from his nonprofit, Greater Cornerstone Community Development Project.

Sandra Thornton is Development Director at Street School, a Tulsa high school for at-risk students. It's a smaller nonprofit that just recently received its four-star rating.

"We owe it to our constituents that most of the money that they give us actually goes to the programs and the services that they're thinking," she said.

Thornton said she gives to charity herself, and always looks at how much money a nonprofit spends on overhead.

"I have to be able to trust that you are using that money efficiently and effectively, so I think transparency is extremely important," Thornton said.

You can see a full list of Oklahoma nonprofits with four-star ratings here.