Donation 367725 224783163 2008-07-10T11:50:23Z Rror 6252166 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/122.164.6.195|122.164.6.195]] to last version by SarekOfVulcan (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) [[Image:Trinitatis Kirke Copenhagen collectionbox.jpg|thumb|Donation box in Trinity Church, [[Copenhagen]].]] {{Otheruses}} {{Refimprove|date=July 2007}} A '''donation''' is a gift given, typically to a cause or/and for [[Charitable organization|charitable]] purposes. A donation may take various forms, including [[cash]], [[Service (economics)|services]], new or used [[goods]] as i.e. [[clothing]], [[toys]], [[food]], [[vehicles]], emergency or [[humanitarian aid]] items, and can also relate to medical care needs as i.e. [[blood]] or [[organs]] for [[Organ transplant|transplant]]. Charitable gifts of goods or services are also called [[gifts in kind]]. ==Legal aspects== Donations are gifts given without return consideration. This lack of return [[consideration]] means that, in [[common law]], an agreement to make a donation is an "imperfect contract void for want of consideration."<ref>William Blackstone, quoted in {{CathEncy|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05117a.htm|title=Donation}}</ref> Only when the donation is actually made does it acquire legal status as a transfer or property.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} In [[civil law (legal system)|civil law]] jurisdictions, on the contrary, donations are valid contracts, though they may require some extra formalities, such as being done in writing.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} In politics, the law of some countries may prohibit or restrict the extent to which politicians may accept gifts or donations of large sums of money, especially from business or special [[interest group]]s (see [[campaign finance]]). In countries where there are limits imposed on the freedom of disposition of the [[testator]], there are usually similar limits on donations.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} The person or institution giving a gift is called the '''donor''', and the person or institution getting the gift is called the '''donee'''. ==Donating in the name of others== It is possible to donate in the name of a third party, making a gift in honor or in memory of someone or something. Gifts in honor or memory of a third party are made for various reasons, such as holiday gifts, wedding gifts, in memory of somebody who has died, in memory of pets or in the name of groups or associations no longer existing. Memorial gifts are sometimes requested by the survivors (e.g. "in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to ABC Charity"), usually directing donations to a charitable organization for which the deceased was a donor or volunteer, or for a cause befitting the deceased's priorities in life or manner of death. Memorial donations are also sometimes given by people if they cannot go to the ceremonies. == See also == * [[Charitable contribution]] * [[Fundraising]] == References == {{reflist}} http://www.jrdshah.org {{Charity}} [[Category:Social economy]] [[Category:Giving]] [[Category:Charities]] [[de:Spende]] [[es:Donación]] [[id:Sumbangan]] [[it:Donazione]] [[ja:寄付]] [[sr:Донација]] [[sv:Donation]] [[ko:증여]] [[zh:捐贈]]