>Charity is not "giving money to somebody else so they can do charity on your behalf" nor is it "paying taxes to fund social programs". Charity is you, directly, investing your resources in your community, with no expectation of return.
Can you give some concrete examples? Because I can't tell what distinction you are trying to define, at all.
In which bucket would you put:
1) Giving money to a local hospital
2) Volunteering with a non-profit organization
3) Giving cash to a wandering schizophrenic
4) Buying lunch for someone who's been holding up a cardboard sign at an off-ramp
5) Giving money to the United Way through paycheck deductions.
6) Giving money to an organization that funds research into a disease
7) Giving money to a local organization that gives grants and loans to disadvantaged people to start small businesses.
8) *Lending* money to a local non-profit that gives loans to disadvantaged people to start small businesses.
9) Giving money to a local food bank.
10) Donating blood to the Red Cross
11) Giving money to the Red Cross
Can you give some concrete examples? Because I can't tell what distinction you are trying to define, at all.
In which bucket would you put: