Keep reading to discover the manner ins which philanthropy has actually evolved over the last number of centuries, from who gives and how the work is done.
One might, when one hears the word philanthropy, instantly think of a handful of famous philanthropists who are well known for handing out their fortunes to causes that they appreciate. This is something that has actually held true for many thousands of years, with the first documented example of institutionalised philanthropy, along with the genesis of the philanthropy meaning and word, taking place over 2 thousand years ago in ancient Greece. During this period, the word implied something more similar to 'caring of one's fellow human being', or humanism, than the constraints of wealth one may apply to the term today, but nevertheless wealthy individuals played an important charity role in the culture. Wealthy people were anticipated to give back to the society, assisting to install the money for repair work to public works like city walls or temples along with financing festivals and other public celebrations. Being stingy was not looked upon well, and if a wealthy person was not seen to be a philanthropist, they could be ostracised from the community entirely.
Various entities have been responsible for charity work throughout the ages. Although wealthy individuals and celebrity philanthropists may be seen as the central charitable force in the contemporary world, that is not always completely correct, nor has it been for much of history. In the middle ages, it was religious institutions like the church that would have been the main charitable hubs, both within the community and on larger level projects. That altered with the coming of commercial enterprise when rich people ended up being more powerful, and after that moved once again towards the end of the nineteenth century when foundations began to spring up that were better organised and could devote more attention to getting things done. This is much the same way that charity is structured today, whether those foundations are established by grassroots groups, wealthy people, or companies like SJP.
The manner in which charity has actually been financed has actually changed a good deal throughout the course of human history, moving between different entities which hold the most power and wealth, just as the focus of charity work has changed as various requirements have actually emerged. Now, there are a great many problems that have to be dealt with, from increasing inequality to the climate crisis, and charity will inevitably play an important part in that procedure. Rich individuals with bank accounts that would make a medieval kings blush have their part to play, but so do the firms that are the main centers of financial generation in the twenty-first century through things like corporate philanthropy. Whether that is setting up a foundation of their own or developing ESG dedications, businesses like Morgan Stanley and Vanguard Group are starting to do so.