THE Shanghai Youth Service Center for AIDS Prevention raised over 200,000 yuan (US$30,800) through a joint fund with the government-backed Shanghai Charity Foundation, but not every organization of Good Samaritans is that lucky.

The number of philanthropic groups eligible to tap public fundraising has been restricted by law. That is about to change.

The National People's Congress, meeting in Beijing, is poised to pass a new law allowing any legally registered charitable group to qualify for public fundraising.