Philanthropy is an important part of modern society, but that has held true for countless years too.
For as long as there have been records of human civilisation there has been a history of compassion, providing, and philanthropy being lauded within society. Charity is not something that has come along with contemporary famous philanthropists; charity and generosity has actually held a central position in a virtuous life since the birth of ancient civilisations and faiths. The Ancient Greeks thought philanthropy to be important to democracy, similar to we do today. This is in fact where the word came from, from 'philanthrōpos', born from the Promethean myth and suggesting to like one's fellow human. It was seen as a commitment of the wealthy within society to help with civic tasks, such as the upkeep of temples, city walls, and celebrations; if rich citizens neglected to share their wealth, they were at grave threat of being ostracised from the community by both their monetary peers and those of a lower socio-economic standing. One might be able to see echoes in the expectations that individuals have of the incredibly rich right now.
The philanthropy meaning has actually changed a lot from its conception a few thousand years earlier, as has the focus of charity and who is accountable for it. After the Middle Ages and its rural feudalism the focus of philanthropy shifted towards the towns and cities, and spiritual institutions stopped being the main source of charity work. Throughout the following years, humanitarian values developed to the point that there was an understanding of public obligation to those in need, especially after periods of war and upheaval. It was not till the end of the 19th century, however, that philanthropy started to take on a form more reminiscent of modern-day charity, whereupon more institutionalised philanthropic businesses like foundations had a far-reaching influence on the worldwide state of education, culture, science, and public health. This is where the modern-day model of charity started to take shape, as many wealthy people and companies like SJP establish foundations for humanitarian endeavours right now.
Although humanitarian work is an incredibly ancient thing, it has actually ended up being a lot more organised in the last few years. The coordination of philanthropic institutions increased throughout the turbulent twentieth century, particularly during the 2nd World War, meaning that different foundations interacted and became more professional. With civil liberties movements coming to the forefront after the war, community-led philanthropy began to emerge that supported minority causes in particular. A mix of community-led and more institutionalised philanthropy work is usually how charity works today, with a huge variety of supporting players and projects. Not just are wealthy individuals participating in this day and age, however corporate philanthropy is now the standard of modern organization practice, with business like Morgan Stanley and Vanguard Group putting money aside for good causes also, something that is most likely to grow more in years to come.