The ruling on giving zakat al-fitr to charitable associations, and that the most cautious course is for the one who pays zakat and the one who distributes the fitr charity to distribute it himself.

The Shaykh : Likewise, it was not part of the Sunnah of the early period to collect the fitr charity; rather, every person of legal age distributes it himself. As for giving this zakat, which is zakat al-fitr, to charitable associations today, that depends on an important matter, and I do not know if these associations pay attention to applying it. We all know that it is not permissible to advance the distribution of zakat al-fitr by more than two or three days before the day of Eid. Distributing it at the beginning of Ramadan or in the middle of Ramadan, as many individuals do, is contrary to the Sunnah. If the associations mentioned take this aspect into account, collecting these zakat al-fitr and not distributing them until before the Eid, then there is no harm in appointing these associations as agents for this charity, on the basis that it is presumed they are more knowledgeable than the one paying zakat about the poor and needy in that neighborhood.
But I fear, and what I fear most, is that they may adopt a view that broadens the permissibility of paying out zakah many days before the festival. This is from one aspect. From another aspect, they may collect it in the association's fund and add it to the principal of the zakah collected with them, and pay it out, perhaps days after the festival, or perhaps months later. Therefore, the more cautious course is for the one paying zakah and the one paying the alms of breaking the fast to pay it out himself. First, he pays it out immediately before the festival, and this is the best. If he takes a dispensation, then one or two days before that. Then he places it in the hand of one he sees as being among those entitled to this zakah, and then he observes that the person is among the righteous. This is another aspect, and I do not know if the associations have the capacity to observe and apply this aspect, so that the one paying zakah is a helper to the people of good and the people of righteousness with the good and money he presents to them.