慈善是一种善良意愿的社会活动，关系「施予者」和「受施者」。在社会上，不问物质回报地，给予有需要的社区帮助、赞助等。 慈善是促进人类福利进步的利他关怀，通常透过捐赠金钱、资产或活动，由教育或医疗机构捐赠予有需求的人，或公益协助其他社会需求。

《礼记·檀弓》记载有“嗟来之食”的典故，黔敖所主持的就是一种慈善事业。清康熙朝江苏巡抚张伯行倡导“担粥法”。李光地设置粥厂煮粥散给饥民吃。陆世仪在《劝施米汤约》文中提出施米汤法，就是家里做饭时，多放点水，把米汤舀出来，再放点杂粮，施舍给没有饭吃的人。光绪中九年（1883）水灾，顺天府尹周家楣奏准在各乡镇及京城六门外设立粥厂。

Philanthropy (from Greek φιλανθρωπία) means etymologically, the love of humanity, in the sense of caring, nourishing, developing, and enhancing what it means to be human. In this meaning, it involves both the benefactor in their identifying and exercising their values, and the beneficiary in their receipt and benefit from the service or goods provided. A conventional modern definition is "private initiatives, for public good, focusing on quality of life," which combines an original humanistic tradition with a social scientific aspect developed in the 20th century. The definition also serves to contrast philanthropy with business endeavours, which are private initiatives for private good, e.g., focusing on material gain, and with government endeavours, which are public initiatives for public good, e.g., focusing on provision of public services. A person who practices philanthropy is called a philanthropist.