If you're looking for a good organization to donate to, I think you can't get much better than Kiva. They are a micro loan company that gives out, from the perspective of many, these tiny loans. However, to the individuals who the money is loaned to the equivalent of $25 as a start up loan can be a complete game changer.

They have a reproducable model, and one that is self sustaining to some degree because most people pay back the loan they are given. Plus, unlike a normal NGO, the person who needs help is not given assistance effectively chosen by the NGO itself. Rather individuals are given money directly and trusted to use the money responsibly.

It turns out almost everyone does their best to do just that. It rates well at charity navigator and you can rest assured even a small donation has a high likelyhood of permanently changing an individuals life.