New smartphone apps help donors access charities

— -- If you're looking to donate to a good cause, there may be a smartphone app to help you choose.

Potential donors in New Jersey and Washington state can already check out charities on their smartphones before they write checks. Other states are likely to follow, says Patrick Rooney, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

New Jersey's Office of the Attorney General unveiled its free charity smartphone application late last month. Washington released its similar application in December 2010. Would-be donors on both can learn an organization's total revenue, as well as how much of the donated money is spent on charitable programming.

Since its launch, about 700 people have downloaded the New Jersey app, said Casey Faiman, general manager of the New Jersey portal for NICUSA, a company that has built websites, online services and payment processing solutions for more than 3,500 federal, state and local government agencies.

Rebecca Sherrell, charities program manager in the Washington Office of the Secretary of State, like Rooney says it's likely other states will provide similar aps.

Anne Marie Borrego, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross, has not seen the state apps but said she likes the opportunity "for donors to make better-informed decisions."

The Better Business Bureau recommends a charity dedicate at least 65% of its revenue to programming activities. About 90% meet that standard, said Bennett Weiner, chief operating officer of the Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance.