Two of the biggest breast cancer charities - Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation - recently teamed up with New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman to establish best practices for disclosing financial information. With this move, the organizations are hoping companies that sell products featuring pink ribbons or promoting the fight against breast cancer will make contribution information more transparent.

For instance, businesses carrying breast cancer awareness products would let supporters know what percentage of proceeds will actually go to various causes, or if in-kind donations are going to be made instead.

"These best practices, agreed to by the nation's largest breast cancer charities, will help ensure that cause marketing campaigns provide the benefit that’s expected, and that we protect consumers, charities and above all, the women and families affected by this devastating disease," said Schneiderman.

Organizations that are raising money for multiple important causes can use programs such as nonprofit fundraising software to generate reports about charitable contributions. That way, they can present accurate data about their efforts to demonstrate appropriate use of funds.