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Guide to Charity Classifications

We're continuously refining and improving our categories and classifications. Below we have further explained the labels and classifications we use for our charity directory.

Categories

Because of no current official category classification of charities in Hong Kong (beyond what constitutes as "charitable purposes" as specified by the HK Inland Revenue Department – see Appendix 1 in Tax Guide for Charitable Institutions and Trusts of a Public Character), we have proceeded to create our main charity categorization based on the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities used among others by the IRS in the United States. These are as follows:

Arts, Culture & Humanities
Charities whose primary purpose is to promote appreciation for and enjoyment and understanding of the visual, performing, folk, and media arts; the humanities (archaeology, art history, modern and classical languages, philosophy, ethics, theology, and comparative religion); history and historical events; and/or communications (film, video, publishing, journalism, radio, television).

See all listed charities in this category in the charity directory

Education
Charities whose primary purpose is education-related.

See all listed charities in this category in the charity directory

Environment and Animals
Charities whose primary purpose is to preserve, protect and improve the environment. And private nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is to provide for the care, protection and control of wildlife and domestic animals that are a part of the living environment; to help people develop an understanding of their pets; and to train animals for purposes of showing.

See all listed charities in this category in the charity directory

Health
Charities whose primary purpose falls within the following areas: Health Care, Mental Health & Crisis Intervention, Voluntary Health Associations & Medical Disciplines, Medical Research and related private nonprofit organizations.

See all listed charities in this category in the charity directory

Human Services
Charities whose primary purpose falls within the following areas: Crime & Legal-Related, Employment, Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, Housing & Shelter, Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief, Recreation & Sports, Youth Development, and other human services.

See all listed charities in this category in the charity directory

International, Foreign Affairs
Charities whose primary purpose is to provide services or other forms of support to increase mutual understanding across countries, encourage social, economic or political development outside of its jurisdiction, and/or impact national, multilateral or international policies on international issues.

See all listed charities in this category in the charity directory

Mutual/Membership Benefit
Charities whose primary purpose is membership benefit-related.

See all listed charities in this category in the charity directory

Public & Societal Benefit
Charities whose primary purpose falls within the following areas: Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations, Science & Technology, Social Science and other related public & societal benefit organizations.

See all listed charities in this category in the charity directory

Religion-Related
Charities whose primary purpose is religion-related.

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Unknown/Unclassified
If unsure, or unable, to identify other relevant categories, this is selected.

See all listed charities in this category in the charity directory

In the future, we may further implement sub-classifications to these categories, such as utilized in the NTEE-CC classification system.

Target Beneficiaries

Our target beneficiary list is work-in-progress and may be further expanded with additional labels. Should you have feedback on what you think should be added to this list, please send it through Feedback.

  • Youth (age between 15-24)
  • Women
  • Those Under the Poverty Line
  • Sexual Minorities
  • Refugees
  • Physically Disabled
  • Other Chronic Illnesses
  • Other (for whenever any other target beneficiaries are not applicable)
  • Nature and Environment
  • Migrant Workers
  • Mental Disorder
  • Men
  • Homeless
  • Ethnic Minorities
  • Elderly
  • Children (persons under the age of 14)

Sustainable Development Goals

These goals refer to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Open a goal for a short explanation. The official pages are on sdgs.un.org.

Goal 1: No poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Ending poverty means more than raising incomes above an extreme-poverty line. It includes cutting poverty in all its dimensions, extending social protection and basic services, and helping people withstand disaster, conflict, and climate shocks.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 2: Zero hunger

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

This goal is about safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for everyone, ending malnutrition, and supporting sustainable agriculture so small-scale producers can raise productivity and incomes while protecting ecosystems and adapting to climate shocks.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

The commitment covers ending major epidemics, cutting maternal and child deaths, reducing premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases, promoting mental health, and reaching universal health coverage so people can get quality care and affordable medicines and vaccines without financial hardship.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 4: Quality education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

It aims for free, equitable primary and secondary schooling for every girl and boy, plus early childhood care, affordable vocational and higher education, literacy, and the skills people need for decent work and sustainable development.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 5: Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

The goal targets discrimination, violence, and harmful practices such as child marriage, along with unpaid care work and unequal access to leadership, land, property, and sexual and reproductive health.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

It calls for universal access to safe, affordable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, cleaner water, more efficient use, and protection of rivers, wetlands, and other water-related ecosystems.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

That means universal access to modern energy, a larger share of renewable energy, and better efficiency, including cleaner cooking and upgraded energy infrastructure.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

The goal promotes higher productivity, entrepreneurship, full employment, equal pay, and safe workplaces, and an end to forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking, and child labour.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

It covers reliable, sustainable infrastructure, inclusive industrialization, support for small enterprises, cleaner industrial processes, and stronger scientific research and technological capacity.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 10: Reduced inequalities

Reduce inequality within and among countries.

It calls for faster income growth among the poorest, inclusion regardless of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic status, and fairer global finance, trade, and migration.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

The goal covers safe, affordable housing and transport, inclusive planning, protection of cultural and natural heritage, disaster resilience, cleaner air and waste, and accessible green public space.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Countries, businesses, and consumers are asked to manage natural resources efficiently, cut food loss and waste, handle chemicals safely, recycle, and shift toward lifestyles the planet can support.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 13: Climate action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

It calls for stronger resilience to climate hazards, climate measures built into national policy, and wider public education on mitigation, adaptation, and early warning. The United Nations treats the Paris Agreement as the main international forum for the global response.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 14: Life below water

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

This goal targets marine pollution, protection of coastal and marine ecosystems, ocean acidification, overfishing and illegal fishing, and the sustainable use of marine resources, especially for small island and least developed countries.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 15: Life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

It covers forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands: conservation and restoration, an end to deforestation and desertification, and action against habitat loss, extinction, poaching, and invasive species.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

The goal aims to reduce violence, end abuse and trafficking of children, provide equal access to justice, cut corruption, and build accountable institutions that include people in decisions and give everyone a legal identity.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

The other goals depend on cooperation across finance, technology, trade, capacity-building, and policy, so governments, business, and civil society can carry out the 2030 Agenda together.

Official United Nations page for this goal

See all listed charities tagged with this goal in the charity directory

Last updated October 9, 2026.