Checking out philanthropy examples across the centuries

Checking out philanthropy examples across the centuries

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Since the ancient Greeks philanthropy has been key to a healthy and efficient culture, and similar holds true these days.

One might, when one hears the word philanthropy, immediately think about a handful of famous philanthropists who are well known for distributing their fortunes to causes that they appreciate. This is something that has been the case for many thousands of years, with the very first documented example of institutionalised philanthropy, along with the genesis of the philanthropy meaning and word, occurring over two thousand years back in ancient Greece. During this period, the word indicated something more comparable to 'caring of one's fellow man', or humanism, than the limitations of wealth one may apply to the term now, however nonetheless rich people played a crucial charity role in the culture. Rich people were expected to give back to the community, helping to put up the cash for repairs to public works like city walls or temples in addition to funding celebrations and other public events. Being pinchpenny was not regarded well, and if a rich individual was not seen to be a benefactor, they could be ostracised from the community altogether.

Many different 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 modern world, that is not necessarily entirely 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 main charitable centers, both within the town and on bigger level undertakings. 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 19th century when foundations started 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 developed by grassroots groups, wealthy individuals, or firms like SJP.

The manner in which charity has actually been financed has actually altered 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 different requirements have actually emerged. Now, there are a great many concerns that need to be attended to, from increasing inequality to the climate crisis, and charity will inevitably play an important part in that procedure. Rich people with checking account that would make a medieval kings blush have their part to play, but so do the companies that are the main 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.