What is true about promises to contribute to charity?

Promises to contribute to charity are generally considered valid without the requirement of consideration. In many legal systems, including those governed by principles of contract law, charitable promises are recognized to have a binding effect even when no specific consideration is exchanged in return for the promise. This is primarily based on the understanding that charitable donations serve a public good and that the donor's intention to contribute is sufficient to create a moral obligation or a binding promise.

This concept operates on the idea that while a standard contract requires consideration (something of value exchanged between parties), charitable pledges are often seen in a different light. Many jurisdictions respect the integrity of such promises as long as the intent to donate is evident.

Regarding the other options: requirements for written form are not universally applicable as many charitable contributions can be made verbally or implied. Additionally, the idea that promises must be legally binding does not align with the nature of charitable contributions which often arise from goodwill rather than a legally enforceable agreement. Therefore, the understanding that charitable contributions do not necessitate consideration is pivotal in affirming the validity of such promises.