In the ancient world, charity fell primarily to the extended family, with the State and the Church taking a role, usually for those who lacked living family. The sick and crippled were often reduced to begging and were sustained by the generosity of individuals. In ancient Greece, the state took care of orphans to the age of 18, and in both independent and Roman-occupied Israel, the church cared for orphans and widows as mandated in Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 10:18). In Christianity, the church was responsible for, in addition to the care of widows and orphans (James 1:27), the care of the sick and establishment of hospitals. The duties to the sick, crippled, orphaned, and widowed became primarily the responsibility of the church as Europe became Christian. Tithes not used for the Church's expenses were to be used for charitable purposes, which was generally upheld as long as no one was building a Cathedral. Elsewhere in the world, the family and state were still responsible for most charity. It wasn't until the enlightenment in Western Europe that organized charity began to be independent and secular.
The modern secular charitable organization originated when the Foundling Hospital in London was founded in 1739 by a civilian sea captain, Thomas Coram. While the state definitely had a hand in its operations (its Governors consisted of local nobility and civic leaders), it possessed a royal charter allowing it to exist as an independent entity. Excluding universities, patronages, the various churches, and states, Foundling Hospital is the first notable charitable organization.