Meaning

noun a voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile cause

noun act of giving in common with others for a common purpose especially to a charity

originFrom Middle English donacion, donation, from Middle French donation, from Latin dōnātiō (“a present”), from dōnō (“to give”), from dōnum (“a gift”). Recorded in English since the 15th century. Equivalent to donate + -ion.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0