noun
charitable donation; contribution; alms
Refers to monetary or material aid given out of a sense of duty or compassion, often for disaster relief or social welfare. 義援金 is a very common compound.
被災地に義援金を送った。
We sent a charitable donation to the disaster area.
街頭で義援を呼びかける。
They appeal for donations on the street.
Compound of 義 (righteousness, duty) and 援 (aid, support). The older spelling 義捐 uses 捐 (contribute, give up) with the same reading. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since the Meiji era for charitable contributions.