publicbenefit

Publicbenefit is a principle used in charity and nonprofit regulation to describe the extent to which a purpose or activity benefits the public or a sufficiently large segment of the community, rather than private individuals or a narrow group. In many jurisdictions, public benefit is a foundational requirement for charitable status and for ongoing accountability of organizations that seek tax advantages or public funding.

Typical criteria include: the aims must be for the common good rather than private gain; the benefits should be accessible to the public or a defined section of society; the beneficiaries must be identifiable and the purpose must have a real, beneficial impact; and any private gains must be incidental and not essential to the organization's work. The assessment is often done by a regulator or court, and standards differ by country.

Examples of activities that commonly meet public benefit include relief of poverty, advancement of education, promotion of health, protection of the environment, and culture and scientific research. Organizations such as hospitals, universities, museums, religious groups with public charitable aims, and welfare charities typically pursue public benefit objectives.

Public benefit is sometimes criticized for being vague or variably applied, which can affect eligibility and funding. Jurisdictional differences mean that what counts as public benefit in one country may not in another, and debates continue about what constitutes a sufficiently broad public audience or the allowances for private benefit in pursuit of a public goal.