What is the legal definition of a charity?

• A. A registered non-profit organisation that meets specific criteria for helping people in need and is often funded by donations.
• B. A for-profit enterprise with tax advantages.
• C. A political advocacy group without charitable status.
• D. An international NGO only.

Answer: (A)

Charities are legally recognized non-profit organizations set up to benefit the public or help people in need, and they must be registered with a regulator. They reinvest profits into their charitable work and often rely on donations and grants to fund their activities. This description matches how charities are defined in many jurisdictions: a registered, non-profit entity pursuing charitable aims and funded by donations.

The other descriptions miss key features: a for-profit enterprise with tax advantages isn’t a charity because profits aren’t reinvested in a public-benefit mission; a political advocacy group often lacks charitable status; and restricting to international NGOs ignores many charities that operate domestically or locally.