A few months http://petardas.in.net/ www.petardas.com - Check out your community foundation. You can also set up adonor advised fund through your local community foundation, orcontribute directly and see your money put to work in your owntown or neighborhood. Ken Nopar, a Chicago consultant who helpsdonors plan their charitable strategies, suggests that peoplewho give local also do on-site visits and volunteer for thecharities they support. It helps cement their connection to theorganization. (Disclosure: I was on the board of my small localcommunity foundation for years, and am a fan.)