The aim of the paper is to analyze Ottoman Armenian women's campaign for education and their activism in charity in 1876-1914. The paper traces the historical meaning of charity and gift-giving culture in general to illustrate how "modernity" on the Ottoman state level on one hand, and intra-millet level on the other, brought about new formulations and meanings of charity among the Ottoman Armenians. The paper explores the ways in which women were influenced by and participated in the reform in education and charity that they believed would result in the well-being of the nation in general and women in particular. It conceptualizes women's charitable activism and movement for education on the background of the Ottoman imperial policies and new imagination of the Armenian nation to illustrate, (a) how the context at times inspired and at times hampered women's activism, and, (b) how this activism fit into the larger picture of nationalist movement and women's participation in the movement. The paper argues that women's campaign for spreading education and providing charity for women and children, and especially the significance of this activism for nation-building processes led to demands for betterment of their state of existence in other spheres (e.g. marriage, employment, etc).