Giving is intrinsic to being human. These charitable apps point you to ways to donate money or do acts of kindness that can help make the world a better place.

Charity can't be compelled, it must come from within, naturally. If you feel the desire to help, these websites, ebooks, and apps will show you who to trust, why charity matters, and how to responsibly track your donations.

1. GiveWell (Web): Find Which Charities You Can Trust

GiveWell tracks and researches charitable organizations to tell you who to trust and what impact they have with your donations

There are so many charitable organizations that are doing good in different ways. And then there are those who make a lot of noise but do little good in the world. So if you are looking to donate, how do you choose where you should send your money? Turn to GiveWell's analysis to find charities you can trust.

GiveWell does extensive research on every charity to see which organizations are doing the best work in a cause you want to support. It analyzes budget reviews and the charity's data, seeks independent evidence and conducts on-site visits, and regularly reassesses the reports. Plus, GiveWell itself is upfront when they get it wrong, adding the kind of transparency that is a crucial factor in being able to trust these reports.

Through GiveWell's list of top charities, you'll find high-impact, cost-effective ways of helping the world and ensuring your donation is put to good use. You can read the full research report of any organization before donating. GiveWell also has an excellent guide on how to donate money that instructs you on best practices so you avoid online scams.

2. The Life You Can Save (Web, Ebook): The Best Book on Charity is Free to Download

The Life You Can Save is a free ebook and free audiobook that concisely explains how small steps by you can help alleviate poverty at a global level

Peter Singer's book The Life You Can Save (TLYCS) is one of the most important write-ups on charity and poverty in modern times. It makes you question your moral compass, challenges your beliefs on charity and goodwill, and shows the real impact of your actions on alleviating global poverty. And on the official website, you can download the ebook for free, as well as get the free audiobook narrated by renowned personalities such as Kirsten Bell, Stephen Fry, and Paul Simon.

The website also hosts an "impact calculator" to see how your donation can change lives. Put in any amount in USD, choose from a variety of charities, and you'll immediately find out how that money will be put to use.

If you're unsure about which charity is right for you to support, try the TLYCS questionnaire. By choosing multiple-choice answers in five questions, you'll get a list of globally-verified charities that align with your beliefs.

Like GiveWell, TLYCS also vets charities globally to find those that deserve your donation the most. The website also suggests ways to donate, talks about tax implications, and gives philanthropic advice.

3. ThatHelps (Android, iOS): Social Network to Find Where Help Is Needed

Charity isn't always about giving money. What are the ways in which you can contribute to those in need of help? ThatHelps tries to be the point where those who want to do good can find out how to do good.

The app asks you for areas of interest in which you'd like to help, and then shows recommendations of those in need. The News feed is a bit like a social network, where people can share about the help they or an organization needs. Others can comment on it or share it further with their network.

In the Help section, you'll find opportunities and postings about various ways you can make a positive impact. Featured opportunities are curated by the ThatHelps team to point you towards causes that need some help right now. You'll also find individual ways to do better, like reducing your carbon footprint.

Download: ThatHelps for Android | iOS (Free)

4. inLieu (Android, iOS): Gift a Donation to a Cause Someone Believes In

inLieu makes it easy to give the gift of charitable donations that your friends and family believe in, rather than material gifts

The gifting industry really wants you to buy the perfect gift for friends and family. But far too often, these gifts end up being regifted, thrown away, or used only for a short while. inLieu is a way to give a meaningful gift by donating to a charity that your friends and family believe in.

The app is a social network with messaging features and a payment portal. It also lists a number of verified, trustworthy charities, which you can donate to directly through the app (with a $1 administration fee per transaction). "Think of it as Venmo for donating," says founder Kathy Terry.

Add charities you like to support to your profile, and others will be able to see it. The next time they want to give you a gift, they can instead donate to a cause you believe in, and vice versa. You'll be reducing wastage while helping those who actually need the gift you're giving.

As several users point out, you might not want to use inLieu for birthdays or holiday gifts with someone important to you. But the app is perfect to replace gifts for casual social events like dinner invitations, or thank yous for a favor.

Download: InLieu for Android | iOS (Free)

5. Hedado (Web): One Place to Manage and Distribute All Your Charitable Givings

Hedado is one dashboard to manage all your charitable gifts in one place, and track donation receipts

Hedado's mission is to make it easy for you to manage all your philanthropic giving in one place. It provides a single dashboard to add all the charities you support and track all the donation receipts for future tax deductions.

Once you sign up for the app, go through the list of supported charities to add them to your portfolio. Add a payment method for your donations, along with an amount and a frequency for automatic recurring contributions. You can set a total amount you want to donate, and assign a percentage of that to each charity. By default, the money is split evenly, but you can edit it individually to support the causes you believe in more.

All of this information is easily formatted in the dashboard. Hedado tracks every receipt as well and tells you when a donation has been made. The app will also generate a consolidated report of what these non-profits were able to achieve with your donations.

As with any new website that asks for sensitive payment data like credit cards, we recommend being extra careful. Use a virtual credit card, if possible, or other ways to avoid credit card skimming scams.

Give Without Guilt

Commonly, we tend to give more when we're spending more on ourselves. It's a way to assuage our guilt. But that also means we give more infrequently than actually required by those who need help.

Regular charitable contributions are far more effective for organizations doing good work. Plus, it's easier on your wallet when you regularly give a small amount rather than a lump sum once in a while. Build the habit of giving without guilt, and you'll find a more wholesome and sustainable approach to charity.