My enthusiasm has always been more muted in the case of the big, highly publicised national charities.

Stewart says it is hard for local charities to compete with the big national charities.

But budgets for the big charities have seen healthy gains in recent years.

But if you look at the biggest charities in the country, you couldn't tell.

THE time is surely right for a tough-minded look at the country's big medical charities.

"The understanding always is when they do a big charity that there is no budget for the party," she said.

Watch how the big, powerful charities on Tuesday expressed uncharacteristic outrage.

United Way is one of the country's biggest charities, raising more than $3 billion through payroll checkoff plans.

Many of New York's biggest charities and individuals agree.

I work for a big charity and it's likely that I'll lose my job in April.