Younger netizens most generous online donors

According to Ant Financial, which received 600 million yuan via the Alipay platform-or one-third of the country's online donations in the first half of this year-45 percent of the money was given by people born in the 1980s, followed by those born in the 1990s (26 percent) and 1970s (21 percent).

In terms of the number of donations, those born in the 1990s made 48 percent of the donations via the Alipay platform, followed by those born in the 1980s (35 percent) and 1970s (9 percent).

While speaking at a conference in Hebei province last month, Wang Aiwen, vice-minister of civil affairs, said internet-powered donation platforms play a unique role in nurturing the public's philanthropist interests, serving as the crossroads for capital, information and public opinion.

"They're powerful and have great potential for further growth," he said.

Over the past few years, China has ramped up scrutiny over charity scams and misconduct.

In 2016, China enacted the landmark Charity Law, which limited fundraising qualification to a small number of charities with perfect credit records, while at the same time making it compulsory to disclose how they plan to spend the money.

Under the law, online fundraising activities are allowed only on websites designated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs in a bid to contain risks.

Last year, the National Development and Reform Commission, which is the top economic planner, along with the central bank, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and dozens of other departments, created a credit system that subject noncomplying organizations to joint punishments, including barring them from tax breaks and government contracts.

More than 5,200 organizations have been blacklisted for various levels of breaches by the end of August, according to a report released by China Philanthropy Research Institute, affiliated to the Beijing Normal University.