In the article on the basis of previously not included in the scientific circulation of archival materials, the charitable work of the nobles of Nizhyn county in the field of construction of monuments in various cities of the Russian Empire is considered. The author researched quantitative and qualitative indicators of nobility charity. The main attention is paid to the dynamics of the process and its motivational component. At the beginning of the century, most nobles took part in the collection of funds under the pressure of their immediate superiors, or under the pressure of certain corporate rules and responsibilities.The author comes to the conclusion that in this area was very burdensome for most nobles of the county. The small land nobility of the county already in the middle of the nineteenth century practically stopped participating in such actions. At the same time, participation in other charity events aimed at helping specific people, or in support of church-religious institutions, found a greater emphasis among representatives of noble state.