What, how and who: purposes, activities and beneficiaries To be a charity an organisation must have exclusively charitable purposes. This means that each purpose must fit within one or more of twelve descriptions of purpose set out in the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and be for the public benefit. Many charities have more than one purpose, and will classify purposes under a number of different descriptions. This information is captured on the online register of charities. The table on the following page sets out the twelve broad descriptions of purpose and the percentage of charities that have a purpose which can be classified under each one. % of Charitable purpose charities 62% The advancement of education The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, 36% financial hardship or other disadvantage 34% The advancement of citizenship or community development 27% The advancement of health or the saving of lives 21% The prevention or relief of poverty 19% The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation 11% or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity 9% The advancement of religion 6% The advancement of environmental protection or improvement
What, how and who: purposes, activities and beneficiaries To be a charity an organisation must have exclusively charitable purposes. This means that each purpose must fit within one or more of twelve descriptions of purpose set out in the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and be for the public benefit. Many charities have more than one purpose, and will classify purposes under a number of different descriptions. This information is captured on the online register of charities. The table on the following page sets out the twelve broad descriptions of purpose and the percentage of charities that have a purpose which can be classified under each one. Charitable purpose % of charities The advancement of education 62% The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage 36% The advancement of citizenship or community development 34% The advancement of health or the saving of lives 27% The prevention or relief of poverty 21% The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science 19% The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity 11% The advancement of religion 9% The advancement of environmental protection or improvement 6%
20150727-what-do-charities-look-like-in-northern-ireland-research-report-v20-approved-and-published.docx