Cracking the complexity code of charities

North American charity ventures collect donations for the needy or suffering. Few studies have analysed philanthropic ventures and altruistic promoters. In the charity industry, donors mandate intermediaries (agents) to transfer donations to beneficiairies. One of the underlying assumptions of agency theory is that agents attempt to maximize their personal welfare and compensation; this behaviour may not always be in the best interests of beneficiairies. What is the typical business model of a charitable organization? Is there a monitoring process? What is the social return on investment? The complex patterns of inter-stakeholder relationships, both good and bad, are scrutinized. The research threads it way into the ‘complexity code’ of charities via archival data and forensic science data. This article also deciphers the altruism of agents via a new behavioural matrix. To conclude, a complexity-aware monitoring process is submitted. Thus, the article sheds new light on the complexity of charities and proposes directions for future research.