There’s no cut-and-dry answer for this. You should give to a cause you believe in because it makes you feel good and it’s the right thing to do. Giving to a local charity might be especially satisfying because you’ll more easily be able to see the results of your giving firsthand. However, if you can travel abroad and get involved in or at least see close-up the cause to which you choose to give, that could also be a worthwhile, gratifying experience.

The tax breaks you can get for making charitable contributions come with certain limitations. Foreign charities are not eligible for tax deductions, so you won’t save any money on your taxes if you donate to these charities. Many charities that do work in foreign countries are based in the United States and are still eligible.