Certain charities have helped me in my life in one way or another or have meant something to me somehow and some mean something to me through family members and their involvement with them.
Although I do believe that charity begins at home and the need to take care of yourself and one’s family first is very important before caring for others, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t help others if we can but we should NEVER be guilt-tripped into doing so. Only donate an amount of money you feel comfortable with, even if it is just pennies and don’t be forced into donating on a monthly Direct Debit plan by anyone. If you would rather just put money in a collection box, etc. then do so or just visit a charity shop instead and then you can choose what you want to spend and maybe get yourself a bargain in the process.
I have seen different sides to charities (not all good) and many make a lot of money for the fat cats in charge. I do not support that at all. If you feel that way too then it shouldn’t stop you from helping them though as there are many ways to help without being concerned who your money is going to. Volunteering your time to them is just as precious as is sharing their cause on social media, etc. (if you agree with the reason behind a certain charity) is helping too. I have done volunteer work for some charities which have helped my confidence regarding my mental health and helped me learn new things.
Different charities mean different things to different people. Most of the ones mentioned on this page are the ones relevant to things in my life and are what I feel are worthy of my support albeit my money and/or my time.
You can read more about these in my Decades section and in my blog posts below.
About Chariities
A charity or charitable organisation is an organisation whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good).
The legal definition of a charity (and of a charitable organisation) varies between countries and in some instances regions of the country. The regulation, the tax treatment, and how charity law affects charitable organisations also vary. Charitable organisations may not use any of their funds to profit individual persons or entities. However, some charitable organisations have come under scrutiny for spending a disproportionate amount of their income to pay the salaries of their leadership.
Financial figures (e.g. tax refund, revenue from fundraising, revenue from the sale of goods and services or revenue from investment) are indicators to assess the financial sustainability of a charity, especially to charity evaluators. This information can impact a charity’s reputation with donors and societies, and thus the charity’s financial gains.
Charities often depend partly on donations from businesses. Such donations to the charities represent a major form of corporate philanthropy.
To meet the exempt organisational test requirements, a charity has to be exclusively organised and operated. To receive and pass the exemption test, a charity must follow the public interest and all exempt income should be for the public interest. For example, in many countries of the Commonwealth, charities must demonstrate that they provide a public benefit.
The History Of Charities
Early Systems
Until the mid-18th century, charity was mainly distributed through religious structures (such as the English Poor Laws of 1601), almshouses, and bequests from the rich. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam incorporated significant charitable elements from their very beginnings and alms-giving has a long tradition in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. Charities provided education, health, housing, and even prisons. Almshouses were established throughout Europe in the Early Middle Ages to provide a place of residence for the poor, old, and distressed people. King Athelstan of England (reigned 924 – 939) founded the first recorded almshouse in York in the 10th century.
Enlightenment Charity
During the Enlightenment era, charitable and philanthropic activity among voluntary associations and affluent benefactors became a widespread cultural practice. Societies, gentlemen’s clubs, and mutual associations began to flourish in England, with the upper classes increasingly adopting a philanthropic attitude toward the disadvantaged. In England, this new social activism led to the establishment of charitable organisations, which proliferated from the middle of the 18th century.
This emerging upper-class trend for benevolence resulted in the incorporation of the first charitable organisations. Appalled by the number of abandoned children living on the streets of London, Captain Thomas Coram set up the Foundling Hospital in 1741 to care for these unwanted orphans in Lamb’s Conduit Fields, Bloomsbury. The idea of a hospital for less fortunate children has continued up to now but it is most commonly referred to as a care home. This institution, the world’s first of its kind, served as the precedent for incorporated associational charities in general.
Another notable philanthropist of the Enlightenment era, Jonas Hanway, established The Marine Society in 1756 as the first seafarers’ charity, aiming to aid the recruitment of men into the navy. By 1763, the Society had enlisted over 10,000 men, and an Act of Parliament incorporated it in 1772. Hanway also played a key role in founding the Magdalen Hospital to rehabilitate prostitutes. These organisations were funded by subscriptions and operated as voluntary associations. They raised public awareness about their activities through the emerging popular press and generally enjoyed high social regard. Some charities received state recognition in the form of a royal charter.
Charities also began to take on campaigning roles, championing causes and lobbying the government for legislative changes. This included organised campaigns against the mistreatment of animals and children, as well as the successful campaign in the early 19th century to end the slave trade throughout the British Empire and its extensive sphere of influence. However, this process was quite lengthy, concluding when Saudi Arabia abolished slavery in 1962.
The Enlightenment era also witnessed a growing philosophical debate between those advocating for state intervention and those believing that private charities should provide welfare. The political economist, Reverend Thomas Malthus (1766 – 1834), criticized poor relief for paupers on economic and moral grounds and proposed leaving charity entirely to the private sector. His views became highly influential and informed the Victorian laissez-faire attitude toward state intervention for the poor.
The Foundling Hospital, Lamb’s Conduit Fields, Bloomsbury, London.
This is an early print of the Foundling Hospital, built in 1741. The word foundling means a small child and children and babies in baskets were dropped off and left on the doorstep to be collected by nurses.
The building has since been demolished.
Charity during the Enlightenment era by Antoine-Alexandre Morel.
This painting was created on the 1st of January, 1800. The artist was born in 1765 and died in 1829.
Growth During The 19th Century
During the 19th century, a profusion of charitable organisations emerged to alleviate the awful conditions of the working class in the slums. The Labourer’s Friend Society, chaired by Lord Shaftesbury in the United Kingdom in 1830, aimed to improve working-class conditions. It promoted, for example, the allotment of land to labourers for cottage husbandry, which later became the allotment movement. In 1844, it became the first Model Dwellings Company – one of a group of organisations that sought to improve the housing conditions of the working classes by building new homes for them, all the while receiving a competitive rate of return on any investment. This was one of the first housing associations, a philanthropic endeavour that flourished in the second half of the nineteenth century, brought about by the growth of the middle class. Later associations included the Peabody Trust (originating in 1862) and the Guinness Trust (founded in 1890). The principle of philanthropic intention with capitalist return was given the label five per cent philanthropy.
There was strong growth in municipal charities. The Brougham Commission led to the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, which reorganised multiple local charities by incorporating them into single entities under supervision from the local government.
Charities at the time, including the Charity Organisation Society (established in 1869), tended to discriminate between the deserving poor, who would be provided with suitable relief, and the underserving or improvident poor, who were regarded as the cause of their woes due to their idleness. Charities tended to oppose the provision of welfare by the state, due to the perceived demoralising effect. Although minimal state involvement was the dominant philosophy of the period, there was still significant government involvement in the form of statutory regulation and even limited funding.
Philanthropy became a very fashionable activity among the expanding middle classes in Britain and America. Octavia Hill (1838 – 1912) and John Ruskin (1819 – 1900) were important forces behind the development of social housing, and Andrew Carnegie (1835 – 1919) exemplified the large-scale philanthropy of the newly rich in industrialised America. In Gospel of Wealth (1889), Carnegie wrote about the responsibilities of great wealth and the importance of social justice. He established public libraries throughout English-speaking countries and contributed large sums to schools and universities. A little over ten years after his retirement, Carnegie had given away over 90% of his fortune.
Towards the end of the 19th century, with the advent of New Liberalism and the innovative work of Charles Booth in documenting working-class life in London, attitudes towards poverty began to change. This led to the first social-liberal welfare reforms, including the provision of old-age pensions and free school meals.
A Puck magazine cartoon by Louis Dalrymple of Andrew Carnegie’s philanthropy.
This cartoon was published in New York City. U.S.A. in 1903.
Growth Since 1901
During the 20th century, charities such as Oxfam (established in 1947), Care International, and Amnesty International expanded greatly, becoming large, multinational non-governmental organisations with very large budgets.
Growth Since The 21st Century
With the advent of the Internet, charities established a presence on online social media platforms and began initiatives such as cyber-based humanitarian crowdfunding, exemplified by platforms like GoFundMe. Another notable charity is Beyond the Crisis. This organisation distributes food and resources to housing communities and homeless shelters in the United States. It was founded by young philanthropists Camden and Colton Francis.
By Jurisdiction
Australia
The definition of charity in Australia is derived from English common law, originally from the Charitable Uses Act 1601, and then through several centuries of case law based upon it. In 2002, the federal government initiated an inquiry into the definition of a charity. The inquiry proposed a statutory definition of a charity, based on the principles developed through case law. This led to the Charities Bill 2003, which included limitations on the involvement of charities in political campaigning, an unwelcome departure from the case law as perceived by many charities. The government appointed a Board of Taxation inquiry to consult with charities on the bill. However, due to widespread criticism from charities, the government abandoned the bill.
Subsequently, the government introduced the Extension of Charitable Purpose Act 2004. This act did not attempt to codify the definition of a charitable purpose but rather aimed to clarify that certain purposes were charitable, resolving legal doubts surrounding their charitable status. Among these purposes were childcare, self-help groups, and closed/contemplative religious orders.
To publicly raise funds, a charity in Australia must register in each Australian jurisdiction in which it intends to raise funds. For example, in Queensland, charities must register with the Queensland Office of Fair Trading. Additionally, any charity fundraising online must obtain approval from every Australian jurisdiction that mandates such approval. Currently, these jurisdictions include New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. Numerous Australian charities have appealed to federal, state, and territory governments to establish uniform legislation enabling charities registered in one state or territory to raise funds in all other Australian jurisdictions.
The Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission (A.C.N.C.) commenced operations in December 2012. It regulates approximately 56,000 non-profit organisations with tax-exempt status, along with around 600,000 other N.P.O.’s in total, seeking to standardise state-based fund-raising laws.
A Public Benevolent Institution (P.B.I.) is a specific type of charity with its primary purpose being to alleviate suffering in the community, whether due to poverty, sickness, or disability. Examples of institutions that might qualify include hospices, providers of subsidised housing, and certain not-for-profit aged care services.
Canada
Read more here.
Charities in Canada need to be registered with the Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency. According to the Canada Revenue Agency, a registered charity is an organisation established and operated for charitable purposes. It must devote its resources to charitable activities. The charity must be a resident of Canada and cannot use its income to benefit its members. A charity also has to meet a public benefit test. To qualify under this test, an organisation must show that its activities and purposes provide a tangible benefit to the public and those eligible for benefits are either the public as a whole or a significant section of it. They should not be a restricted group or one where members share a private connection, such as social clubs or professional associations with specific memberships. The charity’s activities must be legal and must not be contrary to public policy.
To register as a charity, the organisation has to be either incorporated or governed by a legal document called a trust or a constitution. This document has to explain the organisation’s purposes and structure.
France
Most French charities are registered under a type of legal entity for non-profit N.G.O’s. This statute is extremely common in France for any type of group that wants to be institutionalised such as sports clubs, book clubs, support groups etc. It is very easy to set up and requires very little documentation. However, for an organisation under the statute to be considered a charity, it has to file with the authorities to come under the label of N.G.O. acting for the public interest. This label gives the N.G.O. some tax exemptions.
Hungary
In Hungary, charities are referred to as Public benefit organisations. The term was introduced on the 1st of January, 1997 through the Act on Public Benefit Organisations.
India
Under Indian law, legal entities such as charitable organisations, corporations, and managing bodies have been given the status of legal persons with legal rights, such as the right to sue and be sued, and the right to own and transfer property. Indian charities with this status include Terna Public Charitable Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust.
Ireland
In Ireland, the Charities Act (2009) legislated the establishment of a Charities Regulatory Authority, and the Charities Regulator was subsequently created via a ministerial order in 2014. This was the first legal framework for charity registration in Ireland. The Charities Regulator maintains a database of organisations that have been granted charitable tax exemption (a list previously maintained by the Revenue Commissioners). Such organisations would have a C.H.Y. number from the Revenue Commissioners, a C.R.O. number from the Companies Registration Office, and a charity number from the Charities Regulator.
The Irish Nonprofits Database was created by the Irish Nonprofits Knowledge Exchange (I.N.K.Ex.) to serve as a repository for regulatory and voluntarily disclosed information about Irish public-benefit nonprofits.
Nigeria
Charitable organisations in Nigeria are registerable under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020. Under the law, the Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria, being the official Nigerian Corporate Registry, is empowered to maintain and regulate the formation, operation, and dissolution of charitable organisations in Nigeria. Charities in Nigeria are exempted under §25(c) of the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) Cap. C21 LFN 2004 (as amended), which exempts from income tax corporate organisations engaged wholly in ecclesiastical, charitable, or educational activities. Similarly, §3 of the Value Added Tax Act (V.A.T.A.) Cap. V1 LFN 2004 (as amended), and the 1st Schedule to the V.A.T.A. on exempted Goods and Services goods zero-rates goods and services purchased by any ecclesiastical, charitable, or educational institutions in furtherance of their charitable mandates.
Poland
A public benefit organisation is a term used in Polish law. It was introduced on the 1st of January, 2004 by the statute on public good activity and volunteering. Charitable organisations of public good are allowed to receive 1% of income tax from individuals, making them tax-deductible organisations. To receive such status, an organisation has to be a non-governmental organisation, with political parties and trade unions not qualifying. The organisation must also be involved in specific activities related to the public good as described by the law, and it should demonstrate sufficient transparency in its activities, governance, and finances. Moreover, data has shown that this evidence is pertinent and sensible.
Polish charities with this status include Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, K.A.R.T.A. Center, the Institute of Public Affairs, the Silesian Fantasy Club, the Polish Historical Society, and the Polish chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation.
Singapore
The legal framework in Singapore is regulated by the Singapore Charities Act (Chapter 37). Charities in Singapore must be registered with the Charities Directorate of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. One can also find specific organisations that are members of the National Council of Social Service (N.C.S.S.), which is operated by the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
Ukraine
The legislation governing charitable activities and the process of obtaining charitable organisation status is regulated by Ukraine’s Civil Code and the Law of Ukraine on Charitable Activities and Charitable Organisations.
According to Ukrainian law, there are three forms of charitable organisations:
(1) A charitable society is a charitable organisation created by at least two founders and operates based on the charter or statute.
(2) A charitable institution is a type of charitable trust that acts based on the constituent or founding act. This charitable organisation’s founding act defines the assets that one or several founders transfer to achieve the goals of charitable activity, along with any income from such assets. A constituent act of a charitable institution may be contained in a will or testament. The founder or founders of the charitable institution do not participate in the management of such a charitable organisation.
(3) A charitable fund or charitable foundation is a charitable organisation that operates based on the charter, has participants or members, and is managed by them. Participants or members are not obliged to transfer any assets to such an organisation to achieve the goals of charitable activity. A charitable foundation can be created by one or several founders. The assets of a charitable fund can be formed by participants and/or other benefactors.
The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine is the main registration authority for a charity’s registration and constitution. Individuals and legal entities, except for public authorities and local governments, can be the founders of charitable organisations. Charitable societies and charitable foundations may have, in addition to founders, other participants who have joined them as prescribed by the charters of such charitable associations or charitable foundations. Aliens (non-Ukrainian citizens and legal entities, corporations, or non-governmental organisations) can be the founders and members of philanthropic organisations in Ukraine.
All funds received by a charitable organisation and used for charitable purposes are exempt from taxation, but obtaining non-profit status from the tax authority is necessary.
Legalization is required for international charitable funds to operate in Ukraine.
United Kingdom
Charity law in the UK varies among England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but the fundamental principles are the same. Most organisations that are charities are required to be registered with the appropriate regulator for their jurisdiction, but significant exceptions apply so that many organizations are bona fide charities but do not appear on a public register. The registers are maintained by the Charity Commission for England and Wales and by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator for Scotland. The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland maintains a register of charities that have completed formal registration. Organisations applying must meet the specific legal requirements, have filing requirements with their regulator, and are subject to inspection or other forms of review. The oldest charity in the United Kingdom (U.K.) is The King’s School, Canterbury, established in 597 AD.
Charitable organisations, including charitable trusts, are eligible for a complex set of reliefs and exemptions from taxation in the U.K. These include reliefs and exemptions concerning income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, stamp duty land tax, and value-added tax (V.A.T.). These tax exemptions have led to criticisms that private schools can use charitable status as a tax avoidance technique rather than offering a genuine charitable good.
The Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 subjects charities to regulation by the Electoral Commission in the run-up to a general election.
England And Wales
Definition
Section 1 of the Charities Act 2011 defines England and Wales for the law of England and Wales A charity means an institution which is established for charitable purposes only and falls to be subject to the control of the High Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction concerning charities.
The Charities Act 2011 provides the following list of charitable purposes:
(1) The prevention or relief of poverty:
(2) The advancement of education.
(3) The advancement of religion.
(4) The advancement of health or the saving of lives.
(5) The advancement of citizenship or community development.
(6) The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science.
(7) The advancement of amateur sport.
(8) The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity.
(9) The advancement of environmental protection or improvement.
(10) The relief of those in need, because of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
(11) The advancement of animal welfare.
(12) The promotion of the efficiency of the armed forces of the Crown or of the police, fire and rescue services or ambulance services.
(13) Other purposes currently recognised as charitable and any new charitable purposes which are similar to another charitable purpose.
A charity must also provide a public benefit.
Before the Charities Act 2006, which introduced the definition now contained in the 2011 Act, the definition of charity arose from a list of charitable purposes in the Charitable Uses Act 1601 (also known as the Statute of Elizabeth), which had been interpreted and expanded into a considerable body of case law. In Commissioners for Special Purposes of Income Tax v. Pemsel (1891), Lord McNaughten identified four categories of charity which could be extracted from the Charitable Uses Act and which were the accepted definition of charity before the Charities Act 2006:
(1) The relief of poverty,
(2) The advancement of education,
(3) The advancement of religion.
(4) Other purposes considered beneficial to the community.
Charities in England and Wales, such as Age UK, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (R.S.P.B.) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (R.S.P.C.A.) must comply with the 2011 Act regulating matters such as charity reports and accounts and fundraising.
Structures
As of 2011, there are several types of legal structures for a charity in England and Wales:
(1) Unincorporated association.
(2) Trust.
(3) Company limited by guarantee.
(4) Another incorporation, such as by royal charter.
(5) Charitable incorporated organisation.
The unincorporated association is the most common form of organisation within the voluntary sector in England and Wales. This is essentially a contractual arrangement between individuals who have agreed to come together to form an organization for a particular purpose. An unincorporated association will normally have a constitution or set of rules as its governing document, which will deal with matters such as the appointment of office bearers and the rules governing membership. The organisation is not, however, a separate legal entity, so it cannot initiate legal action, borrow money, or enter into contracts in its name. Its officers can be personally liable if the charity is sued or has debts.
A trust is essentially a relationship among three parties which are the donor of some assets, the trustees who hold the assets, and the beneficiaries (those eligible to benefit from the charity). When the trust has charitable purposes and is a charity, the trust is known as a charitable trust. The governing document is the trust deed or declaration of trust, which comes into operation once signed by all the trustees. The main disadvantage of a trust is that, like an unincorporated association, it lacks a separate legal entity, and the trustees must themselves own property and enter into contracts. The trustees are also liable if the charity is sued or incurs liability.
A company limited by guarantee is a private limited company where members’ liability is limited. A guarantee company does not have a share capital, but instead has members who are guarantors rather than shareholders. If the company is wound up, the members agree to pay a nominal sum, which can be as little as £1. A company limited by guarantee is a useful structure for a charity where trustees need limited liability protection. Moreover, the charity has a legal personality and can enter into contracts, such as employment contracts, in its name.
A small number of charities are incorporated by royal charter, which is a document that creates a corporation with legal personality (or, in some cases, transforms a charity incorporated as a company into a charity incorporated by royal charter). The charter must be approved by the Privy Council before receiving royal assent. While the nature of the charity will vary depending on the clauses enacted, a royal charter generally offers a charity the same limited liability as a company and the ability to enter into contracts.
The Charities Act 2006 introduced a new legal form of incorporation designed specifically for charities. The charitable incorporated organisation (C.I.O.) as powers similar to a company but without the need to register as a company. Becoming a C.I.O. was only made possible in 2013, with staggered introduction dates, with the charities with the highest turnover eligible first.
The term foundation is not commonly used in England and Wales. Occasionally, a charity will use the word as part of its name (e.g., British Heart Foundation), but this has no legal significance and provides no information about the charity’s work or legal structure. The organisation’s structure will fall into one of the types described above.
Registration
Charitable organisations with an income of over £5,000 and subject to the law of England and Wales must register with the Charity Commission for England and Wales unless they are an exempt or excepted charity. For companies, the law of England and Wales will usually apply if the company itself is registered in England and Wales. In other cases, if the governing document doesn’t specify, the law that applies will be the one most connected with the organisation.
When an organisation’s income doesn’t exceed £5,000, it can’t register as a charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. However, it can register as a charity with HM Revenue and Customs (H.M.R.C.) for tax purposes only. With the increase in the mandatory registration level to £5,000 by The Charities Act 2006, smaller charities can rely on H.M.R.C. recognition to demonstrate their charitable purpose and confirm their not-for-profit principles.
Churches with an annual income of less than £100,000 need not register.
Some charities, referred to as exempt charities, aren’t required to register with the Charity Commission and aren’t subject to its supervisory powers. These charities include most universities and national museums, as well as some other educational institutions. Other charities are exempted from the need to register but are still subject to the supervision of the Charity Commission. The regulations on excepted charities were changed by the Charities Act 2006. Many excepted charities are religious charities.
Northern Ireland
The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland was established in 2009 and has received the names and details of over 7,000 organisations in Northern Ireland that have previously been granted charitable status for tax purposes (the deemed list). Compulsory registration of organisations from the deemed list began in December 2013, and it is expected to take three to four years to complete. The new Register of Charities is publicly available on the C.C.N.I. website and contains the details of those organisations that have so far been confirmed by the commission to exist for charitable purposes and the public benefit. The Commission estimates that between 5,000 and 11,500 charitable organisations need to be formally registered in total.
Scotland
The approximately 24,000 charities in Scotland are registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (O.S.C.R.), which also maintains a register of charities online.
United States
In the United States (U.S.), a charitable organisation is an organisation operated for purposes that are beneficial to the public interest. There are different types of charitable organisations. Every U.S. and foreign charity that qualifies as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) is considered a private foundation unless it demonstrates to the Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.) that it falls into another category. Generally, any organisation that is not a private foundation (i.e., it qualifies as something else) is usually a public charity as described in Section 509(a) of the I.R.C.
In addition, a private foundation usually derives its principal funding from an individual, family, corporation, or some other single source, and it is more often than not a grantmaker that does not solicit funds from the public. In contrast, a foundation or public charity generally receives grants from individuals, government, and private foundations. While some public charities engage in grantmaking activities, most conduct direct service or other tax-exempt activities. Foundations that are generally grantmakers (i.e., they use their endowment to make grants to other organisations, which in turn carry out the goals of the foundation indirectly) are usually called grantmaker or non-operating foundations.
The requirements and procedures for forming charitable organisations vary from state to state, as do the registration and filing requirements for charitable organisations that conduct charitable activities, solicit charitable contributions, or hire professional fundraisers. In practice, the detailed definition of a charitable organisation is determined by the requirements of state law where the charitable organisation operates and the requirements for federal tax relief by the I.R.S.
Resources exist to provide information, including rankings, of U.S. charities.
Federal Tax Relief
Federal tax law provides tax benefits to nonprofit organisations recognized as exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.). The benefits of 501(c)(3) status include exemption from federal income tax as well as eligibility to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions. In 2017, there were a total of $281.86 billion in tax-deductible donations by individuals.
To qualify for 501(c)(3) status, most organisations must apply to the I.R.S. for such status.
Several requirements must be met for a charitable organisation to obtain 501(c)(3) status. These include the organisation being organised as a corporation, trust, or unincorporated association. The organisation’s organising document (such as the articles of incorporation, trust documents, or articles of association) must limit its purposes to being charitable and permanently dedicate its assets to charitable purposes. The organisation must refrain from undertaking several other activities, such as participating in the political campaigns of candidates for local, state, or federal office. Additionally, the organisation must ensure that its earnings do not benefit any individual. Most tax-exempt organisations are required to file annual financial reports (I.R.S. Form 990) at the state and federal levels. A tax-exempt organisation’s Form 990 and some other forms are required to be made available for public scrutiny.
The types of charitable organisations that the I.R.S. considers to be organised for the public benefit include those organized for:
(1) Relief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged.
(2) Advancement of religion.
(3) Advancement of education or science.
(4) Construction or maintenance of public buildings, monuments, or works.
(5) Lessening the burdens of government.
(6) Lessening neighborhood tensions.
(7) Elimination of prejudice and discrimination.
(8) Defense of human and civil rights secured by law.
(9) Combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.
Several other organisations may also qualify for exempt status, including those organised for religious, scientific, literary, and educational purposes, as well as those for testing for public safety fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.
Criticism
The charity has received criticism. These criticisms include:
(1) Charity only addresses the symptoms of a problem instead of the causes.
(2) Charity is a worse substitute for change that does not fix the fundamental injustices in societal structures and values.
(3) Charity does not provide the best solutions to societal problems.
(4) Charity results in less state funding for essential services because it replaces state services with external institutions at a lower cost.
(5) Charity leads to favouritism instead of fairness.
(6) Tax incentives for donating to charity result in the worsening of social inequalities by reducing state revenue available for social projects and retaining class systems within society.
(7) Inefficient charitable giving, largely due to the splintering of funds that could be better used if pooled together.
(8) Charities misusing their funds.
(9) Charities are more accountable to donors and funders than to the recipients of the charity.
(10) Charities give aid conditionally.
(11) Through eligibility requirements such as sobriety, piety, curfews, participation in job training or parenting courses, cooperation with the police, or identifying the paternity of children, charity models enforce the concept that only those who can prove their moral worth deserve help, motivating citizens to accept exploitative wages or conditions to avoid being subject to the charitable system.
(12) Charity makes rich people and corporations look generous and upholds and legitimises systems that concentrate wealth.
(13) Charity is increasingly privatised and contracted out to the massive nonprofit sector, where organisations compete for grants to address social problems. Donors can protect their money from taxation by storing it in foundations that fund their pet projects, most of which have nothing to do with poor people.
Economist Robert Reich criticised the practice of billionaires giving some of their money to charity, calling it mostly self-serving rubbish. Mathew Snow of the American socialist magazine Jacobin criticised charities for creating an individualised ‘culture of giving’ instead of challenging capitalism’s institutionalised taking.
Charity Fraud
Read more here.
Charity fraud is the act of using deception to obtain money from people who believe they are donating to a charity. Often, individuals or groups will present false information claiming to be a charity or associated with one, and then ask potential donors for contributions to this non-existent charity. Charity fraud encompasses not only fictitious charities but also deceptive business practices. These deceitful acts by businesses may involve accepting donations without using the funds for their intended purposes or soliciting funds under false pretences of need.
Charity Regulators
Charity Ribbons
Charity ribbons.
Medical awareness ribbons are used by charities to highlight their cause. The ones above, and more, are mentioned on the Emergency I.D. Australia website.
Click here to see a list of charity ribbons. Be aware that the meanings of colours vary in different countries.
Baby Loss Charities
Sands – Official website. This stillbirth and neonatal death charity operates across the U.K. They support anyone affected by the death of a baby. Working in partnership with health professionals they ensure that bereaved parents and families receive the best possible care. They promote improvements in practice and funding research that could help to reduce the loss of babies’ lives. They depend on the amazing energies of their supporters to raise the vital funds that they need to deliver the wide range of services that they offer.
Blind Charities
Focus Birmingham – Official website. Focus Birmingham is an independent local charity that provides information, advice, support and care for people with visual impairment and complex needs.
Guide Dogs – Official website. They are here to help people with sight loss live the life they choose. Over the years they have developed a wide range of services with and without dogs to support children and adults living with a vision impairment including helping their friends and family. Whoever you are, their expert staff, dedicated volunteers and life-changing dogs are here to help you live actively, independently, and well. They are a charity, almost entirely funded by donations, and they are the world’s largest assistance dog organisation. As world leaders in puppy socialisation and dog training, they are the only organisation to breed and train guide dogs in the U.K. They are also the largest employer of specialists dedicated to helping children and young people overcome the challenges of sight loss.
Royal National Institute Of Blind People – Official website. The R.N.I.B. is the U.K.’s leading sight loss charity. They offer practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people, their families and carers. They raise awareness of the experiences of blind and partially sighted people and campaign for change to make our society more accessible for all. They want to change our world so there are no barriers to people with sight loss.
Cancer Charities
Breast Cancer Now – Official website. However you’re experiencing breast cancer, they have been there for you for over 50 years and are a leading breast cancer charity in the U.K. They work across three main focus areas. These include campaigning for better breast cancer care, raising awareness and educating people through their website and other publications, and supporting the victims of cancer through face-to-face and group meetings, better access to nurses, and a smartphone application.
Breast Cancer U.K. – Official website. They believe there are opportunities to reduce breast cancer rates in the U.K. by at least 30%, saving lives as a result. They give practical advice on how you can reduce your risk of getting breast cancer by making simple changes in your life. A unique aspect of their work focuses on the role played by endocrine-disrupting chemicals in increasing your risk of breast cancer. They work with other organisations to make your voices heard on this issue. They also fund research that they believe could be a game-changer in the field of breast cancer prevention.
Children With Cancer U.K. – Official website. Around 4,200 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the U.K. That’s around 10 children and young people diagnosed with cancer every day in the U.K. They have been working tirelessly since 1988, to fund research and initiatives that support children and their families through their cancer journey.
Help Harry Help Others – Official website. H.H.H.O. is structured so that they can offer every inch of practical Cancer support right in the heart of the community. They ensure their services are accessible, that there is somewhere to go when people affected by Cancer are having a bad day, and that they have advisors at their centres that offer support in all areas that people may need because of the life-changing circumstances that Cancer inflicts.
Macmillan Cancer Support – Official website. Their purpose is to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer, to help them cope and improve their lives better. They provide support in terms of practical help, medical support and nurses, as well as financial assistance and help to victims of cancer and their families. They also work to increase awareness of cancers through information services.
Marie Curie – Official website. They provide expert hospice care and support over the phone, and they push for a better end of life for all by campaigning and sharing research to change the system. They provide care and support to victims of cancer through a U.K.-wide network of hospices. The organisation helps as many as 40,000 people a year throughout the country, by providing care for people, either in a hospice or in the person’s own home. Care can be provided in the day or night, and is provided for free.
Prostate Cancer U.K. – Official website. They aim to prevent men from being killed by prostate cancer by pushing science to focus on improvements in the treatment and diagnosis, as well as the prevention of prostate cancer.
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation – Official website. They are the leading U.K. lung cancer charity dedicated to helping everyone affected by the disease. Since 1990 they have funded millions of pounds of essential lung cancer research, looking for ways to detect the disease as early as possible and save lives. From diagnosis, through treatment, living with the disease and end-of-life care, they support everyone affected by lung cancer. They raise awareness, prevent future generations from getting it and challenge the misconceptions of lung cancer. They do all this so those diagnosed can live well with lung cancer for as long as possible.
Children’s Charities
Barnado’s – Official website. They have been helping hundreds of thousands of children, young people, parents and carers across the U.K. since 1867. At a time when more young people need specialist help with complex issues like sexual abuse, mental health problems and serious violence, their work is more vital than ever.
Children With Cancer U.K. – Official website. Around 4,200 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the U.K. That’s around 10 children and young people diagnosed with cancer every day in the U.K. They have been working tirelessly since 1988, to fund research and initiatives that support children and their families through their cancer journey.
Help Harry Help Others – Official website. H.H.H.O. is structured so that they can offer every inch of practical Cancer support right in the heart of the community. They ensure their services are accessible, that there is somewhere to go when people affected by Cancer are having a bad day, and that they have advisors at their centres that offer support in all areas that people may need because of the life-changing circumstances that Cancer inflicts.
Sands – Official website. This stillbirth and neonatal death charity operates across the U.K. They support anyone affected by the death of a baby. Working in partnership with health professionals they ensure that bereaved parents and families receive the best possible care. They promote improvements in practice and funding research that could help to reduce the loss of babies’ lives. They depend on the amazing energies of their supporters to raise the vital funds that they need to deliver the wide range of services that they offer.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. – Official website. The N.S.P.C.C. are the U.K.’s leading children’s charity. They have been looking out for children for over 130 years and they couldn’t do it without you. They help prevent child abuse, help rebuild children’s lives and support families.
YoungMinds – Official website. The sheer scale of the problem we’re faced with can feel overwhelming. More young people than ever before need support for their mental health and accessing that support quickly can make a critical difference to those young people. Yet, most of the time those young people need to wait. And wait. And wait. When it feels like nothing is there for you when you need it most, you feel alone. For far too many young people, this is their reality. When they need help and can’t get it, it feels like they’re being told they don’t matter. YoungMinds have called their strategy ‘You Matter’ because, ultimately, that is what this is all about.
Mental Health Charities
To read more about Mental Health click here.
Anxiety UK – Official website. They were formed in 1970, by Katharine and Harold Fisher as a result of Katharine’s experience of agoraphobia and her desire to develop support for others similarly affected. Since those early beginnings, they have grown to become a national organisation with an international reach, whilst retaining a user-led ethos – being run by and for those with anxiety. Many of their small seven-strong staff team have their own lived experience and understand the distress, isolation and misery that anxiety can cause. We’re here to help and can support you to find ways to control anxiety instead of it controlling you.
Bipolar UK – Official website. Their mission is to empower everyone affected by bipolar to live well and fulfil their potential.
Birmingham Mind – Official website. Birmingham Mind is the largest independent mental health charity providing services in and beyond the City of Birmingham’s boundaries. Their website shows how they are promoting wellbeing and recovery, providing high-quality support and challenging the stigma of mental distress.
Campain Against Living Miserably – Official website. C.A.L.M. are taking a stand against suicide. That means standing against feeling shit, standing up to stereotypes, and standing together to show life is always worth living. 125 lives are lost every week to suicide. And 75% of all U.K. suicides are male. They exist to change this. They do it by provoking conversation, running life-saving services, and bringing people together so they reject living miserably, get help when they need it and don’t die by suicide. But they can’t do it alone. Stand with them.
Mental Health Foundation – Official website. Their vision is for a world with good mental health for all. They work to prevent mental health problems. Helping people understand, protect and sustain their mental health. They will drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives, with a particular focus on those at greatest risk.
Mind – Official website. Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. They won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.
Rethink Mental Illness – Official website. Their vision is for equality, rights, fair treatment and maximum quality of life for all those affected by mental illness, their carers, family and friends. As one of the largest charitable providers of services for people living with mental illness, they are well placed to make a direct impact on the care people receive. But they have a much larger vision too – to transform at every level the way our nation approaches mental illness. Every year, our diverse range of information and support helps tens of thousands of people get through crises, live independently and feel that they do not have to face mental illness alone.
Samaritans – Official website. Whatever you’re facing, a Samaritan will face it with you. Every day, Samaritans volunteers respond to around 10,000 calls for help. They are here, day or night, for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure. Samaritans are not only for the moment of crisis, they are taking action to prevent the crisis. They give people ways to cope and the skills to be there for others. And they encourage, promote and celebrate those moments of connection between people that can save lives. They offer to listen and support people and communities in times of need. In prisons, schools, hospitals and on the rail network, Samaritans are working with people who are going through a difficult time and training others to do the same. Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy, and Samaritans’ vision is that fewer people die by suicide. That’s why they work tirelessly to reach more people and make suicide prevention a priority.
The Blurt Foundation – Official website. Think of them as the knowing nod. You’ve seen it – a slight bob of the head, often accompanied by a smile. A little movement that says, “I understand”, “I’m listening” and “I’m here for you”. That’s Blurt. They really understand how devastating depression can be. Jobs come to an end, relationships break down and lives can be lost, all through the effect of depression. That’s why the work they do is so important – it not only changes lives but saves them.
YoungMinds – Official website. The sheer scale of the problem we’re faced with can feel overwhelming. More young people than ever before need support for their mental health and accessing that support quickly can make a critical difference to those young people. Yet, most of the time those young people need to wait. And wait. And wait. When it feels like nothing is there for you when you need it most, you feel alone. For far too many young people, this is their reality. When they need help and can’t get it, it feels like they’re being told they don’t matter. YoungMinds have called their strategy ‘You Matter’ because, ultimately, that is what this is all about.
See Also
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Notes And Links
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