Donations from altruism lately going up (4)
I believe the answer is:
alms
'donations' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'from altruism lately going up' is the wordplay.
'from' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'going up' says the letters should be written in reverse (in a down clue, the letters are written upwards).
'smla' is hidden within 'altruism lately'.
'smla' written backwards gives 'ALMS'.
(Other definitions for alms that I've seen before include "Old word for money given to the poor" , "handed over as charity" , "Charitable donations to poor" , "Charitable giving" , "Charitable offering" .)