noun

(in historical or religious contexts) the practice of giving money or food to poor people.

benevolence in the form of almsgiving was encouraged

benevolence,generosity,humanitarianism,public-spiritedness,altruism,social conscience,social concern,charity,charitableness,brotherly love,fellow feeling,magnanimity,munificence,liberality,largesse,open-handedness,bountifulness,beneficence,benignity,unselfishness,selflessness,humanity,kindness,kind-heartedness,big-heartedness,compassion,humaneness