I've always been attracted to giving unrestricted gifts because it just seemed like that's what the groups I'm donating to need most. Thanks for helping me to understand more about why it's important.

This reminds me of the different levels of charity as told by Maimonides. One of the highest forms is totally anonymous - the person giving doesn't know who gets it, and the person getting it doesn't know who gave it - so no one feels entitled one way or the other.

Maimonides’ Eight Levels of Charity

Level 8 — The donor is pained by the act of giving

Level 7 — The donor gives less than he should but does so cheerfully

Level 6 — The donor gives after being solicited

Level 5 — The donor gives without being solicited

Level 4 — The recipient knows the donor but the donor does not know the recipient

Level 3 — The donor knows the recipient but the recipient does not know the donor

Level 2 — Neither the donor nor the recipient knows the other

Level 1 — The donor gives the recipient the wherewithal to become self-supporting