Neil at 4Simpsons.com recommends sponsoring children through World Vision (here’s their Charity Navigator breakdown).

If you care about child welfare around the globe, and would rather not have your money going to convince people to sell their souls in exchange for schools and clean drinking water, you can donate to these fine secular organizations.

Oxfam    (here’s their Charity Navigator breakdown ) their over-all efficiency might seem slightly less than some religious groups…but remember that many religious groups “program expenses” include missionary work.  If you don’t consider that “efficient” then your better value is a slightly less “efficient” secular program.)

UNICEF  (Here’s the Charity Navigator Breakdown for the US UNICEF fund)

Save the Children  (Here’s their Charity Navigator Breakdown)

Some of these organizations are incredibly efficient, and some of them are merely acceptable.  The main thing to me, is that my money go to actually help people who need it.