Checking out philanthropy examples over the aeons

Checking out philanthropy examples over the aeons

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Ever since the ancient Greeks philanthropy has been fundamental to a healthy and productive culture, and similar is true nowadays.

One might, when one hears the word philanthropy, immediately think of 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 been the case for many thousands of years, with the very first documented example of institutionalised philanthropy, in addition to the origin of the philanthropy meaning and word, happening over 2 thousand years back in ancient Greece. Throughout this period, the word suggested something more akin to 'caring of one's fellow person', or humanism, than the constraints of wealth one might apply to the term these days, however nevertheless rich individuals played a crucial charity role in the culture. Wealthy people were expected to give back to the society, helping to set up the money 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 person was not seen to be a benefactor, they could be ostracised from the community entirely.

Several entities have been accountable for charity work throughout the ages. Although rich individuals and celebrity philanthropists may be viewed as the main charitable force in the modern world, that is not always totally true, nor has it been for much of history. In the middle ages, it was religious institutions like the church that would have been the primary charitable centers, both within the community and on larger level ventures. That altered with the coming of industry when wealthy people ended up being more powerful, and then shifted again towards the end of the 19th century when foundations started to emerge that were better organised and could dedicate more attention to getting things done. This is much the same manner in which charity is structured nowadays, whether those foundations are developed by grassroots groups, wealthy people, or firms like SJP.

The manner in which charity has been funded has changed a good deal throughout the course of human history, moving in between various entities which hold the most power and wealth, just as the focus of charity work has actually altered as various requirements have emerged. Today, there are a great many problems that need to be resolved, from widening inequality to the climate crisis, and charity will inevitably play an essential part in that procedure. Rich people with savings account that would make a medieval kings blush have their part to play, but so do the companies that are the central hubs of financial generation in the twenty-first century through things like corporate philanthropy. Whether that is setting up a foundation of their own or establishing ESG commitments, companies like Morgan Stanley and Vanguard Group are beginning to do so.