Proactive giving — anticipating need before someone gathers the courage to ask. A more demanding form of generosity.
Before the Ask
Level four of the Rambam's hierarchy is: "One who gives to the poor without being asked, but in person, so both parties know one another's identity." What distinguishes this level from lower ones is proactivity: the giver does not wait to be approached.
This requires something most giving does not require: attention. You have to notice need before it is announced. You have to seek it out, or at least remain alert enough to see it when it is present. This is harder than it sounds in a world where it is easy — and tempting — to look away.
Why Asking Is So Hard