Kiva is the charitable organization that everyone is talking about. No wonder!! they do great stuff! The scoop from the Kiva website:
Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can “sponsor a business” and help the world’s working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you’ve sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.
Kiva gift certificates let you give someone the power to change lives.
$25.00 – $5000.00 at Kiva.org