International Day of Charity2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/67/105
About International Day of Charity
International Day of Charity is a United Nations observance on 5 September that recognizes the role charitable action can play in alleviating humanitarian crises and human suffering and in promoting solidarity and understanding.
The day can include giving money, goods, time or organizational support, but responsible participation should prioritize credible organizations, transparent needs and respectful treatment of the people being supported.
Why International Day of Charity matters
Charity can respond to immediate needs, while long-term social problems may also require public services, rights-based approaches, policy change or sustained community organization. The observance does not require treating charity as a substitute for those systems.
Donors should also distinguish an organization’s charitable purpose from its legal or tax status, which varies by jurisdiction.
History of International Day of Charity
The UN General Assembly designated 5 September as the International Day of Charity through resolution A/RES/67/105 in 2012.
The date is the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa, whose charitable work is referenced in the UN background for the observance.
United Nations event records identify 5 September 2013 as the first observance of the International Day of Charity.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Permanent Mission of Hungary to the United Nations
The Secretary-General explicitly states that the General Assembly proclaimed the Day at the initiative of the Permanent Mission of Hungary; the 2012 General Assembly meeting record also shows Hungary introducing draft resolution A/67/L.35.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/67/105
First documented observance
United Nations event records identify 5 September 2013 as the first observance of the International Day of Charity.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Day of Charity
Research a cause and give through a transparent organization whose work and safeguards you can understand.
Contribute useful goods only when an organization has asked for them, rather than assuming donations are needed.
Pair fundraising with education about the underlying issue and the people or communities leading solutions.
Check local rules before organizing a public collection, raffle or other regulated fundraising activity.
International Day of Charity Facts
International Day of Charity is observed on 5 September.
The UN General Assembly designated the day in 2012 through resolution A/RES/67/105.
The date is the anniversary of Mother Teresa’s death in 1997.
The UN resolution emphasizes education and public awareness as well as charitable action.
Legal charity status and tax treatment are jurisdiction-specific.
International Day of Charity Messages
On International Day of Charity, may awareness lead to informed discussion, practical action and respect for the communities at the heart of the observance.
May International Day of Charity encourage thoughtful participation, shared responsibility and action that continues after the observance ends.
Wishing everyone observing International Day of Charity a day of reflection, constructive dialogue and purposeful follow-through.
International Day of Charity Quotes
“Charity is one of the best investments we can make in our common future.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
UN Web TV — International Day of Charity first observance, 5 September 2013 (opens in a new tab)
un.org — authoritative source (opens in a new tab)
United Nations General Assembly Meetings Coverage — Hungary introduces A/67/L.35, International Day of Charity (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Secretary-General — International Day of Charity message, 5 September 2014 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Resolution A/RES/67/105 (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day of Charity?
5 September The documented recurrence rule is: 5 September.
Does International Day of Charity fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of Charity an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day of Charity?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Permanent Mission of Hungary to the United Nations.
Is International Day of Charity international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
Is International Day of Charity the same as International Volunteer Day?
No. Charity can include giving funds or other resources, while International Volunteer Day on 5 December specifically highlights volunteer service and participation.
Why is International Day of Charity on 5 September?
The UN chose the anniversary of Mother Teresa’s death when designating the day in resolution A/RES/67/105.
Does the UN observance make an organization a registered charity?
No. Legal charity or tax-exempt status depends on the laws and registration systems of the relevant jurisdiction.
How this differs from closely related observances
These distinctions use the cited evidence to clarify scope without treating related observances as identical.
Is International Day of Charity the same as International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development?
International Day of Charity on 5 September highlights charitable action and solidarity. International Volunteer Day on 5 December specifically recognizes volunteering and volunteer participation.
Open International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development →Distinction sources
Other observances on September 5
These observances are also listed on September 5, 2027.
International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls
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National Be Late for Something Day
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National Grandparents Day
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