Charity

Charity

Charity is the short form for charitable trust or a charitable foundation. These are set up for specific causes, e.g. curing diseases; providing goods or services for people or areas that lack them; nature conservation; etc. In some countries (including the UK, Canada, Australia etc.) a charity organisation needs, by law, to register with the government. This is to reduce the possibilities of fraud and increase the opportunities for charities to receive tax breaks. See: registered charity.

Charity is also the act of giving money, goods or time to such a charitable trust or other worthy cause.

See also: Non-government organisation; Gift

Charity is also a term in Christian theology, i.e. loving kindness towards others; it is held to be the ultimate perfection of the human spirit, because it is said to both glorify and reflect the nature of God. In its most extreme form charity can be self-sacrificial. Charity is one conventional English translation of the Greek term agape. See also virtue and alms.

Charity is one of the three virtues.

Charity is also used as a Christian- or forename.