1. An organisation, institution, society or trust set up for a purpose of general benefit;
2. unselfish activity to assist those in need of financial or other aid, or to better the condition of society or any considerable part thereof.
To most English speaking people, the word is linked with its use for love (especially Christian love of one's neighbour as practised by giving to the poor, caring for the sick, etc.), because of the universal influence of the authorized version of the Bible and the writings of Shakespeare and others on the English language (vide, eg 1 Cor. 13. 13). Now the word has not necessarily a specially Christian association, and carries the notion of generous or spontaneous goodness. Nor is it limited to the relief of the poor.
So far as English law is concerned, trusts entered on the Register kept by the Charity Commissioners (See Charities Act 1960 s.5) are conclusively presumed to be charitable. The purposes which qualify as charitable are those which were referred to in the statute 43 Eliz c.4 of 1601. These were summarised in the 9th century under four heads: 1. Relief of poverty 2. Advancement of education. 3. Advancement of religion, and 4. Other purposes beneficial to the community.
The definition is legal and technical, and has moved a long way from the colloquial meaning of the term, because of the many legal advantages, especially fiscal advantages, enjoyed by charities. The Preamble to the Statute of Elizabeth was repealed by the Charities Act 1960, but the drafting of a new definition proved to be impossible. The four "heads" above apply to most English speaking countries. In other languages than English, the equivalent of "charity" still has the restricted meaning of work carried out by a church or church-related organisations mainly, and especially for providing aid and comfort to the poor and needy. A notable example of that in the international field is "Caritas Internationalis", which shows that in that field the use of the "charity" is usually so restricted.
In the United States, tax exempt charities are identified on the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, and its most recent amendment, the Tax Reform Act of 1976.