Donations to the destitute (4)
I believe the answer is:
alms
'donations to the destitute' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for alms that I've seen before include "Money given to poor people" , "Old word for money given to the poor" , "handed over as charity" , "Charitable aid to poor" , "Charitable offering" .)