Forget Donations...

Have you heard of microfinance? I have been doing some reading on the topic and it is ingenious. Interest free loans are given to the poor to start or maintain small business in developing countries. The money gets repaid to you, though it is not guaranteed www.kiva.org so far has a 100% track record on repayments.

Here's how it works:

1) Lender gives money to microfinancier (kiva is one example)
2) financier distributes cash to local partner (bank etc)
3) Bank loans cash interest free to small business owner or entrepreneur
4) Over time, business owner repays bank, bank repays microfinancier, and they return your money.

Apparently it works incredibly well, especially since some businesses really need small loans to make repairs or upgrades - they in turn reap more business benefits and can repay the money.

Microfinance Wiki
United Nations on Microfinance