International Day of Charity – September 5, 2026

Expected International Day of Charity Deals

For International Day of Charity, the focus shifts from commercial deals to impactful giving and corporate social responsibility. Many organizations, such as the United Nations Foundation, partner with global charities to amplify fundraising efforts and awareness campaigns. Expect to see major corporations like Starbucks or Microsoft announce donation matching programs, encouraging employees and customers to contribute to their chosen causes. Non-profits like Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam often highlight specific humanitarian crises, seeking direct support for their on-the-ground work. Retailers may feature ’round-up at checkout’ initiatives for a designated charity. We encourage visiting the official websites of your favorite charities to find verifiable ways to donate or volunteer, ensuring your contribution makes a difference.

History of International Day of Charity

Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu was born on August 26, 1910, in the Ottoman Empire, and would go on to commit herself to religious life by age 12. She had always been fascinated by missionaries, particularly those in India, and left home at 18 to learn English and become a missionary in Ireland. She later moved on to India, where she learned Bengali and took religious vows to become a Catholic nun.

Her charitable work truly began in 1948, when she adopted Indian citizenship and worked with the poorest individuals in the country. In the coming years, she opened several hospices, established a congregation, and instituted leper houses and orphanages. Her congregation attracted many recruits and donors and went on to found many branches of her charitable organization that took her good work across the globe.

Mother Teresa, who died in 1997 after 45 dedicated years of charitable service, is remembered as a woman of great faith and unmatched charitable donation. In fact, she left such a legacy that the Hungarian Parliament and Government established International Day of Charity in her honor in 2011. They chose September 5, the anniversary of her death, to commemorate her life with their civil service initiative.

The United Nations quickly picked up on this holiday, and by 2012 it was spread worldwide. The UN established it to recognize the charitable works of all organizations, including the work of Mother Teresa, and to highlight the power of charity in alleviating humanitarian crises and human suffering. Critical goals established by the UN help guide the charitable works we should engage in – these are people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership. On September 5 we can honor the work of Mother Teresa by experiencing the joy of charitable giving ourselves!