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A look at the history of philanthropy, from its origins in Ancient Greece to its modern day incarnation in America.
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The origins of philanthropy
The word philanthropy is derived from the Greek word philanthropia, which means love of humanity. The concept of philanthropy has been around since ancient Greece. In those days, philanthropy was about giving back to the community and helping those in need. Today, philanthropy is still about giving back, but it has evolved to include a wider range of activities.
Ancient Greece
Philanthropy is giving money, time, or energy to help people in need. The word philanthropy comes from two Greek words that mean “love of humanity.” Throughout history there have been many people who have given their money or time to help others. This type of giving is called philanthropy.
Philanthropy has been around since ancient times. In ancient Greece, wealthy citizens would give money or time to help their fellow citizens. This was done because they wanted to make their city a better place to live. The word philanthropy comes from two Greek words: “philos” meaning love and “anthropos” meaning humanity.
In ancient Rome, wealthy citizens would also give money or time to help their fellow citizens. They would do this for the same reason as the people in ancient Greece: they wanted to make their city a better place to live.
In medieval Europe, wealthy individuals would often give money to the Church. They did this because they believed it was their duty to help those in need. They also believed that by helping the Church, they would be helping themselves when they died and went to Heaven.
During the Renaissance, wealthy individuals began giving money to artisans and scholars. They did this because they believed that by supporting the arts and sciences, they were helping to make society better.
The rise of Christianity
Christianity began to rise in popularity in the 4th century AD, and by the 5th century, it had become the dominant religion in the Roman Empire. Christians often helped the poor and sick, which led to the development of hospitals and other charitable institutions. The early Christians also established monasteries, which were places where people could go to live a simple life of prayer and service.
The modern era of philanthropy
The origins of philanthropy can be traced back to Ancient Greece. In those days, philanthropy was about giving back to the community and helping those in need. In America, philanthropy began to take on a different meaning. American philanthropy is about using one’s resources to make a difference in the world. Today, philanthropy is a powerful force for good. It has the ability to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.
America’s Gilded Age
The Gilded Age in America is often associated with great wealth and lavish lifestyle, but it was also a time when philanthropy flourished. Some of the most well-known philanthropists of the time include Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and Cornelius Vanderbilt. These wealthy men used their money to fund various charitable causes, such as education, healthcare, and the arts.
The Gilded Age was followed by a period of economic recession, which led to decreased funding for philanthropic causes. However, philanthropy regained momentum in the early 20th century thanks to businessmen like Henry Ford and Pierre DuPont. In the mid-20th century, philanthrocapitalism became popular, which is a form of philanthropy that emphasizes using business strategies to achieve social change.
Today, philanthropy is more popular than ever before. In the United States alone, there are over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations that rely on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support their work.
The Great Depression and World War II
In the United States, philanthropy experienced a lull during the Great Depression and World War II. Giving decreased during the 1930s as people struggled to make ends meet, and many charities were forced to cut back on their programs or close their doors. Although some wealthy individuals continued to donate money during this time, most people were more focused on survival than giving.
After the war, philanthropy began to rebound. The economy improved, and people started to think about helping others again. In the 1950s and 1960s, philanthropy became more organized, with large foundations and organizations raising money for specific causes. During this time, giving was often seen as a way to make up for past wrongs or to help those less fortunate.
In recent years, philanthropy has evolved once again. Today, many people see giving as a way to make a difference in the world and create positive change. There is also a growing focus on using philanthropy to solve social problems. As our world changes, philanthropy will continue to evolve too.
The civil rights movement
During the 1950s and 1960s, philanthropy in America was energized by the civil rights movement. Philanthropists such as John D. Rockefeller III, Ailsa Mellon Bruce, and Paul Hoffman were supportive of desegregation and Title IX. The Ford Foundation made a series of grants totaling $2 million to support the legal work of Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. In addition, many foundations made grants to support the work of groups such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). These organizations were at the forefront of the civil rights movement, working to end segregation and get voting rights for African Americans.
The civil rights movement also spurred philanthropy in new directions. One example is the creation of community foundations, which began to proliferate in the 1960s. These foundations are grantmaking organizations that are based in a specific geographic region and work to improve the lives of people in that area. They are often created by wealthy individuals or families who want to give back to their communities, and they typically have an endowment that provides a source of funding for their grantmaking.
Today, community foundations are one of the most common types of philanthropic organizations in America. According to a 2012 study by Foundation Center, there are more than 700 community foundations in the United States, with assets totaling nearly $60 billion. These foundations play an important role in promoting civic engagement and improving conditions in their local communities.
The present day
The modern era of philanthropy began in the late eighteenth century with the establishment of the first philanthropic organizations in America. These organizations were created to address the growing problems of poverty and inequality in American society.
One of the earliest and most influential philanthropic organizations was the Society for the Relief of Poor Widows and Children, founded in 1787 by Benjamin Franklin. This organization provided financial assistance to widows and children who were struggling to make ends meet.
Other important philanthropic organizations from this period include the American Bible Society (1816), which distributed Bibles to those who could not afford them; the American Missionary Association (1846), which provided educational opportunities for African Americans; and the Salvation Army (1865), which provided social services to the poor.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, philanthropy became increasingly professionalized, with a growing number of wealthy individuals and families establishing private foundations to support their favorite causes. Some of the most famous philanthropists from this period include Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Julius Rosenwald, and Leland Stanford.
Today, philanthropy remains an important part of American society, with Americans giving billions of dollars each year to charitable causes.
