Words of Positivity
Browse the A to Z index4,633 ENTRIES

Donation

n.kind, hopefuleveryday

What it means

Money, goods, time, tissue, or another resource freely given to help a recipient or cause.

Reach for it when naming a voluntary gift and the act of providing it

One anonymous donation paid for every child's museum ticket.

Choose between these

6
  • playful

    handout

    when aid is given directly and the blunt tone is intentional

    not when Handout can demean the recipient and should not replace respectful donation.

  • warm

    gift

    when generosity and the recipient's experience are central

    not when A gift may celebrate a private occasion rather than serve a cause.

  • professional

    contribution

    when one share joins a larger effort

    not when Contributions may be compulsory, intellectual, or noncharitable.

  • professional

    grant

    when an institution awards funds for a stated purpose

    not when A grant normally follows conditions and selection, unlike many donations.

  • formal

    bequest

    when property is left through a will

    not when A bequest takes effect after death and cannot describe a current gift.

  • formal

    offering

    when religious or ceremonial giving is meant

    not when Offering carries ritual associations that may not fit secular support.

Said against

3
  • withdrawal
  • charge
  • seizure

It naturally appears in

3
  • generous donation

    A generous donation equipped the workshop with accessible tools.

  • make a donation

    Visitors can make a donation without sharing personal details.

  • blood donation

    Each blood donation can support more than one patient's treatment.

Where this comes from

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.