When it comes to charitable donations at the office, sometimes it can feel like the sky is the limit. Whether it's your cubicle neighbor selling his daughter's Girl Scout cookies, your coffee break buddy asking for another sponsorship for his latest 5k run, or your boss asking you to buy wrapping paper and pralines for his son's school fundraiser, sometimes it can feel like all of the little donations add up to a lot less take-home salary. Here are some tips on how to gracefully navigate the art of office giving.

To give or not to give... that is the question, and a tough one at that. Generally speaking, if you have an especially philanthropic spirit you may be more inclined to give to lots of causes frequently. However, if the pressure is on and the thought of buying another unwanted roll of wrapping paper makes you cringe, you should know its okay to politely say no. Here are some more guidelines to help you decide when or when not to give...

Learn how to say no.
Even if you might want to give to coworker causes, you may have other charitable organizations to which you prefer to donate. If you don't feel comfortable giving for any reason, its okay to say that there are other causes you choose to support. Your coworkers may be disappointed, but they should understand and respect your decision.

Check company policy.
Some offices have strict no-solicitation policies, whether it's for union recruiting or popcorn sales. If this is the case, you may want to quietly notify human resources that someone is violating policy.

Suggest consolidation.
Your coworkers might feel equally overwhelmed if there are too many requests for charitable donations. Suggest to your boss that all donated money from your team be equally divided amongst fundraisers so no one is left out and everyone is treated fairly.

Have the group choose a single cause.
Sometimes departments agree to support one cause each year, and all donated funds go to an organization that supports it. Perhaps a coworker's spouse has cancer, and a single yearly donation goes to support the American Cancer Society.

Do your homework.
If you want to give, make sure you do your research on the charity so you know your money is going to a legitimate organization. Do a quick Google search to see what others have said about the charity, and check the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance at http://us.bbb.org/.

Don't forget your taxes.
Charitable giving can be a great way to get a tax break. However, make sure you ask for a receipt so you can report the giving properly.

Armed with these helpful tips, you can feel comfortable making a decision about when or when not to be charitable.