Exploring philanthropy examples over the ages

Exploring philanthropy examples over the ages

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Keep reading to find the ways that philanthropy has actually progressed over the last couple of centuries, from who gives and how the work is done.

One might, when one hears the word philanthropy, immediately think about a handful of famous philanthropists who are well known for handing out their fortunes to causes that they care about. This is something that has actually held true for many thousands of years, with the first chronicled instance of institutionalised philanthropy, as well as the source of the philanthropy meaning and word, happening over two thousand years earlier in ancient Greece. During this duration, the word implied something more akin to 'caring of one's fellow human being', or humanism, than the restrictions of wealth one might apply to the term nowadays, however nevertheless rich individuals played a crucial charity role in the culture. Rich people were expected to give back to the society, helping to install the cash for repairs to public works like city walls or temples along with financing celebrations and other public celebrations. Being stingy was not regarded well, and if a wealthy individual was not seen to be a philanthropist, they could be ostracised from the society altogether.

Several entities have been accountable for charity work throughout the ages. Although wealthy people and celebrity philanthropists may be viewed as the main charitable force in the contemporary world, that is not always entirely accurate, nor has it been for much of history. In the middle ages, it was religious organizations like the church that would have been the main charitable hubs, both within the community and on bigger level ventures. That changed with the coming of commercial enterprise when wealthy individuals ended up being more powerful, and then moved again towards the end of the nineteenth century when foundations started to spring up that were better set up and could dedicate more attention to getting things done. This is much the same manner in which charity is structured these days, whether those foundations are built by grassroots groups, wealthy people, or companies like SJP.

The way that charity has actually been financed has altered a lot throughout the course of human history, moving between various entities which hold the most power and wealth, just as the focus of charity work has actually changed as various requirements have emerged. Now, there are a great many concerns that have to be attended to, from widening inequality to the climate crisis, and charity will undoubtedly play an important role in that process. Rich individuals with checking account that would make a middle ages kings blush have their part to play, however so do the companies that are the central centers of monetary generation in the twenty-first century through things like corporate philanthropy. Whether that is setting up a foundation of their own or establishing ESG dedications, businesses like Morgan Stanley and Vanguard Group are beginning to do so.