The Status of Charity Money That Does Not Reach the Intended Recipient

What is the status of a coin or bill that one gives to charity but is then refused? Occasionally, a person collecting charity might refuse a donation of money, such as if he feels insulted over the small amount. Does that money retain its status as charity money, requiring the individual to give it to a different charity, or may he now keep that money?

The Taz ("Turei Zahav," a commentary to the Shulchan Aruch by Rabbi David Halevi, Poland, 1586-1667) addresses this question and claims that once the donation is refused, it retroactively loses its Halachic status as Tzedaka money. It is therefore permissible to make personal use of that money, and it need not be given to charity.

A slightly different case involves a person who sees somebody collecting charity in the synagogue and pulls out a bill or coin with the intention of giving the money to the collector, who then leaves the synagogue without ever receiving the money. Must the individual give that coin or bill to charity? The Halachic authorities rule that in this case, since the donation was not rejected, but simply did not reach the hands of the intended recipient, it retains its formal status as charity money. If the person collected for himself or for another individual, then the donor should give the money to an individual; if the collector was soliciting on behalf of an institution, then the money should be given to an institution.

One can easily avoid this problem by stipulating – either verbally or mentally – that anytime he pulls out money to give to a collector, the money does not attain the status of Tzedaka money until it reaches the recipient's hands. A person can make this stipulation just once in his lifetime, and it remains in effect from that point onward such that any money he takes out of his pocket to give to charity is not endowed with the status of Tzedaka money until it reaches the recipient. If it then happens that a collector leaves before receiving the money, the donor can keep the money for personal use.

Summary: If a person gives charity and the recipient refuses it, the returned money may be used for personal use and need not be given to another charitable cause. If a person takes money from his wallet with the intention to give it to a collector but the collector leaves before receiving the money, the money must be given to charity. One can avoid this problem by stipulating – even just once in his lifetime – that any money he pulls out to give to charity does not attain the formal status of charity money until it reaches the recipient.