People around the world want to help the Philippines. But what’s the best way to donate after disaster strikes?

Carmen Wong Ulrich, personal finance expert and host of Marketplace Money, recommends using some online tools — CharityNavigator.org and Guidestar.org — to figure out which charity you’d like to donate to, and where your donation will actually go. She also says you shouldn’t donate items, like blankets or canned food, because it’s so expensive to transport them all the way to the Philippines.

“The best way to give is actually to give money,” Carmen says. 

Listen to the audio player above to hear more of Carmen’s thoughts on charitable giving in the wake of the Philippines tragedy.