There are still worse sins in the world than this.
God will judge kindly according to what you mean, not necessarily according to what the recipient meant.
If there should be a rule, it’s that what you give should always have at least a little gospel in it. I will hand a 20 to a begging homeless man on the street, for example, but I will also be sure to tell him “The Lord is near.” Now the onus is on him before the Lord to take it in that spirit or to push the Lord off and use it on his God-forgetting pleasure.
I was not talking about the one homeless man on the street.. I am reflecting on much larger donations.
IMHO, these acts of charity usually require discernment; tough sacrificial love; and attentive care. All of which makes us much better holier people.
Prosperity that leads to individuals being blessed to do great acts of charity should be the call.
BTW, one of the most charitable acts one can do is to give a person a job. As St. Jose Maria points out, one can find Sanctifying Grace in ordinary everyday work.
Unfortunately, we have government and NGO monopolies on charity that make it difficult to be truly charitable in the sense of “teaching one to fish, not just giving them fish” and finding Sanctifying Grace in ordinary everyday work.
I admire people who give generously to those in need or to worthy causes but do so anonymously.
Not that I have that much to give, but when I do I shut up about it and try not to pat myself on the back.
I suspect that most freepers feel the same way as I do.