Charity Organization Society

The Charity Organization Society (COS) was a movement from the late 19th century aimed at improving charitable efforts by promoting more coordinated and effective aid. Instead of multiple agencies providing aid without communication, COS emphasized assessment and casework to understand individuals' needs deeply. This approach sought to address the root causes of poverty and reduce dependency by offering personalized assistance, often involving social workers. Essentially, COS aimed to make charity more strategic, organized, and impactful, encouraging systematic support rather than scattered or repetitive acts of generosity.