I support projects and people directly when I encounter and like them or what they are doing. I like donating/supporting the most if I can make a direct impact and in a positive way influence my direct surrounding. Thus, I don't donate to "big causes" or "big foundations" (ok, with the exception of Wikipedia, whose recent fundraiser I supported; after being in Turkey where wikipedia was blocked at the time when I was there last Summer, I got to really know their value first hand; you only miss something that you suddenly can't use)