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Prepositions with nouns

To charity, for charity, or of charity?

Use to charity for giving or sending something, for charity for fundraising or charitable purpose, and of charity mainly in fixed or formal expressions.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct with charity?

Use to charity when something is donated or directed to a charitable organisation. Use for charity when an activity supports a charitable cause. Of charity is uncommon and mostly appears in formal phrases such as acts of charity.

She donated the clothes to charity.
They ran a marathon for charity.
The group organised a concert for charity.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
donate to charity

Giving money or goods

Use to charity after verbs such as donate, give, or send.

We gave several boxes to charity.
2
raise money for charity

Supporting a charitable cause

Use for charity when an activity benefits a charity or charitable cause.

The school bake sale was for charity.
3
act of charity

Formal descriptions of kindness

Of charity appears in formal or religious expressions describing charitable behaviour.

They considered the donation an act of charity.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
to charity
He sent the books to charity.
used for directing donations or help
for charity
She auctioned her painting for charity.
used for activities that support charitable causes
of charity
The speech praised acts of charity.
formal expression describing kindness or generosity
charity event
We attended a charity dinner.
common noun modifier without a preposition

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using for charity after donate

Donate normally takes to before the organisation or cause.

✕ She donated money for charity. ✓ She donated money to charity.

Using of charity for donations

Of charity is not used for giving something to a charity.

✕ He gave clothes of charity. ✓ He gave clothes to charity.

Confusing purpose and destination

For charity describes purpose, while to charity describes direction.

✕ The boxes were collected for charity and delivered for charity. ✓ The boxes were collected for charity and delivered to charity.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They donated the profits ___ charity.
2. The concert was organised ___ charity.
3. The article praised acts ___ charity.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say donate for charity?

Usually no. English normally uses donate to charity or donate money to a charity.

Is of charity common in modern English?

It is uncommon outside formal or religious expressions such as acts of charity.

Can for charity describe events?

Yes. Fundraisers, races, concerts, and similar activities are often described as for charity.

to, amount, in, amount, of, amount "to availability" or "of availability"? "to bed" or "in bed"? "to bit" or "by bit"? "to bottom" or "at bottom"? to, by, from, with or of ear? "to coast" or "from coast"? "to cycle" or "of cycle"? "to deal" or "of deal"? "to debut" or "on debut"? "to editor" or "of editor"? "to end" or "on end"?

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