On some trends in the transformation of the institute of charity in modern Russia

The research questions of the article are related to the understanding of changes in the activities of the social institution of charity under the influence of various determinants. The aim of the study is to describe a new trend for Russian society in charitable activities in the direction of the development of society and maintaining its stability, which is manifested in the transformation of the functions of institutional agents of charity, as well as in new institutional practices. The analysis of the evolution of social practices of charity as a consequence of changes in the value orientations of the subjects of charitable activities is carried out. The author focuses on the pluralism of social practices of charity, which is associated both with changes in social life and with a change in the value paradigms of charity. The emphasis is placed on changing the paternalistic-activity paradigm as a value guideline of charity to active-activity, according to which the benefactor encourages and activates the practice of self-realization of beneficiaries. Intellectual volunteering is considered as an element of a new value paradigm of the active-active nature of charity, which includes goal-oriented elements in the context of the value orientations of the benefactor.