The top 7 charities in the world - and how much you should give to each

If your altruistic side compels you to donate to charity but you don't know where to turn, GiveWell can help.

In the wake of Giving Tuesday (November 29), the nonprofit charity evaluator has released its 2016 ranking of the top charities in the world.

GiveWell bases the list on a few criteria: how effective the given solution is for the problem it addresses, how well the charity implements that solution, and whether the organization needs the money in the first place.

Low-income areas deal with the greatest threats to residents' health and well-being, so many of the charities GiveWell ranks the highest do work in those regions, namely Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

This year, GiveWell selected seven charities that rose above the rest. If you have a sum of $5,000 to donate, here's how much GiveWell says you should give to each of the top charities (with a small portion leftover for other charities GiveWell considers noteworthy).