Personal Participation
The oldest form of generosity — personal help to a specific person, family, community. Suitable when you personally know the recipient or the situation and can assess the need.
«The hand that gives does not wither» — an ancient Russian proverb, dating back to the Proverbs of Solomon.
What you gain and what changes
- Personal assistance does not require intermediaries — money or an item reaches the recipient directly and quickly.
- This is the best way to start: you see the result with your own eyes and learn to recognize real need.
- Targeted assistance strengthens human connections — you become not a «donor», but a neighbor, friend, fellow traveler.
Step-by-step plan
- 1
Find the recipient and verify the situation
Personal assistance begins with verification. Do not trust reposts without a source — find someone who knows the family or person personally, or contact a parish priest, doctor, social worker.
What to check- You know the recipient personally or through a trusted intermediary
- You have seen medical documents or a housing conditions survey report
- You understand the exact amount and deadline
Documents- Copy of recipient's passport (for large amounts)
- Medical reports / bills
- Contact information of the attending physician or social worker
- 2
Choose the form of assistance
Money is not always needed. Often it is more effective to pay a bill directly (pharmacy, clinic, school), buy a necessary item, or pay for travel. This eliminates the temptation of misuse and makes assistance transparent.
What to check- Money by transfer or cash against receipt
- Direct payment of a bill to a service provider
- Purchase of a specific item / products
Documents- Payment receipt
- Purchase check
- Recipient's receipt
- 3
Record the transfer
For amounts over 10,000 ₽, written confirmation makes sense — even a simple receipt. For amounts from 100,000 ₽ — a gift agreement under Art. 572 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. This protects both parties and helps in case of questions from the bank.
What to check- Check or transfer receipt
- Recipient's receipt
- Gift agreement (for large amounts)
Documents- Payment document
- Gift agreement (notarization not required)
Flow diagram
A visual map of how your support turns into real outcomes and who is responsible for each step.
Legal basis
- Civil Code of the Russian FederationArt. 572 — gift agreement
Transfer of property or money gratuitously. For a promise of donation over 3000 ₽, a written form is required.
- Civil Code of the Russian FederationArt. 582 — donation
Donation with a specified purpose. If the purpose is not fulfilled — money can be returned through court.
- Federal Law-115 of 07.08.2001On Counteracting Legalization
The bank has the right to request documents for a transfer over 600,000 ₽. This is not a sign of suspicion — it's a standard procedure.
- Tax Code of the Russian FederationArt. 219 p. 1 pp. 1
Direct assistance to an individual does not provide a tax deduction. For a deduction, assistance must go through a registered non-profit organization.
Beware of scammers
- Do not transfer money to personal cards if you do not know the recipient personally.
- Check «fundraisers» on social networks through the fund's website and media publications.
- Beware of urgency and emotional pressure — scammers rush you.
- Never disclose CVV, SMS codes, or passwords to «collection coordinators».
Stories that inspire
Dmitry Benardaki secretly supported Gogol in the 1840s — without publicity, without agreements, personally. This is how a significant part of «Dead Souls» was completed.
In Russian villages, «pomoch» (mutual aid) worked for centuries — neighbors chipped in for a fire, illness, or an orphan's wedding. This is the origin of personal philanthropy.