How philanthropy work has actually functioned over the last two millennia

How philanthropy work has actually functioned over the last two millennia

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Charity is not a modern phenomenon by any means, but has an abundant and evolving history that extends over two thousands years.

One might, when one hears the word philanthropy, instantly think about a handful of famous philanthropists who are well known for giving away their fortunes to causes that they appreciate. This is something that has held true for many thousands of years, with the very first documented example of institutionalised philanthropy, in addition to the genesis of the philanthropy meaning and word, happening over 2 thousand years back in ancient Greece. Throughout this period, the word suggested something more similar to 'loving of one's fellow human being', or humanism, than the restrictions of wealth one might apply to the term nowadays, but nonetheless wealthy people played an important charity role in the culture. Wealthy people were expected to give back to the society, helping to install the money for repairs to public works like city walls or temples along with financing festivals and other public celebrations. Being stingy was not regarded well, and if a rich individual was not seen to be a benefactor, they could be ostracised from the community completely.

Many different entities have actually been accountable for charity work throughout the ages. Although wealthy individuals and celebrity philanthropists might be seen as the central charitable force in the modern-day world, that is not necessarily completely accurate, 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 town and on bigger level projects. That changed with the coming of commercial enterprise when rich people became more powerful, and then moved once again towards the end of the nineteenth century when foundations began to spring up that were much better organised and could devote more attention to getting things done. This is much the same manner in which charity is structured nowadays, whether those foundations are set up by grassroots groups, rich people, or companies like SJP.

The way that charity has been financed has actually altered a great deal 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 altered as different needs have actually emerged. Nowadays, there are a great many issues that need to be addressed, from rising inequality to the environment crisis, and charity will inevitably play an important role in that procedure. Rich people with bank accounts that would make a middle ages kings blush have their part to play, but so do the businesses 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 commitments, companies like Morgan Stanley and Vanguard Group are starting to do so.