The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word DONEE
D
O
N
E
E
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "beneficiary/ (5)" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case beneficiary/ (5) = donee.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DONEE mean?
DONEE noun- Someone who receives a gift from a donor.