donation
    n 1: a voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to
         some worthwhile cause [syn: contribution, donation]
    2: act of giving in common with others for a common purpose
       especially to a charity [syn: contribution, donation]

Donation \Do*na"tion\, n. [L. donatio; cf. F. donation.]
   1. The act of giving or bestowing; a grant.
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            After donation there is an absolute change and
            alienation of the property of the thing given.
      --South.
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   2. That which is given as a present; that which is
      transferred to another gratuitously; a gift.
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            And some donation freely to estate
            On the bless'd lovers.                --Shak.
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   3. (Law) The act or contract by which a person voluntarily
      transfers the title to a thing of which be is the owner,
      from himself to another, without any consideration, as a
      free gift. --Bouvier.
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   Donation party, a party assembled at the house of some one,
      as of a clergyman, each one bringing some present. [U.S.]
      --Bartlett.

   Syn: Gift; present; benefaction; grant. See Gift.
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DONATION, contracts. The act by which the owner of a thing, voluntarily 
transfers the title and possession of the same, from himself to another 
person, without any consideration; a gift. (q.v.) 
     2. A donation is never perfected until it is has been accepted, for the 
acceptance (q.v.) is requisite to make the donation complete. Vide Assent, 
and Ayl. Pand. tit. 9 Clef des Lois Rom. h.t.