Why should we offer dana (charity)?

Firstly, the word in English i.e., charity,
does not convey the full import of the word
‘dana’. Dana is always made with a religious
bent of mind, and also carried out with
reverential attitude
towards the receiver.
Hindu scriptures
emphasizes on seeing
the Lord in every
living being, hence
dana must be given
not with the sense of
ego, but as an act of
service to the supreme lord present in the
receiver. The dana which is made to the right
recipient, in right time and optimum measure
with such a reverential attitude is considered
the best form of dana (Satvika dana).