Cathy Pharoah: The charity 'gift' is tarnished unless we put the emphasis back on recipients - Third Sector

Cathy Pharoah: The charity 'gift' is tarnished unless we put the emphasis back on recipients - Third Sector: There's a danger the public will become cynical about the whole concept of giving, warns our columnist

As the value of incomes, property and pensions declines, the one value to which charities can uniquely lay claim is the gift. But even that is tarnished: 'gifts' by individuals to Pargav, which funded Liam's Fox's associate Adam Werritty, were for purposes apparently closely related to business interests; after the recent court ruling, public schools can define public benefit in any terms that suit them; and "donor preference" is the new catchphrase in fundraising.