Charities are particularly well placed to respond to social challenges such as related to socio-economic factors that ultimately result in increasing social and income inequality.  Charities have the potential to build bridges and unite people through their work if people can recognise and respect charitable endeavour regardless of where and to whom its purposes are directed. We must not lose sight of that fundamental point when we ask the charity sector to do more, and to realise its potential.  The public wants reassurance that charities are behaving charitably as well as delivering their charitable purposes and the ability of charities to maintain these standards and to meet growing demand depends on retaining the confidence of public, and the public’s view of the value provided by the sector. It is this goodwill that underpins the legal and economic privileges charities enjoy.  In short, the charity sector is recognised as a vehicle of powerful human endeavour and instinct to do good, the impact of which is important to the Government, the economy and to society. Charities have the potential to synergize the efforts of local and international social and economic actors.

Charitable purposes must fall under one of the following categories and the activities must further these purposes to be considered charitable:

• The relief of poverty

• The advancement of education

• The advancement of health

• Other purposes beneficial to the community that do not fall under any of the other headings (i.e., arts, youth recreation, service clubs)

But on the other hand, activities that are not charitable and cannot be provided by charitable organizations includes;

• Personal benefit

• Private benevolence

• Political purposes

• Any action that is illegal  or contrary to public  policy