A short chronicle of philanthropy throughout two thousand years

A short chronicle of philanthropy throughout two thousand years

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Charity and philanthropy have been crucial parts of a healthy and functioning society for thousands of years now.

The majority of us will acknowledge and appreciate the role that famous philanthropists play in helping the world in this day and age, handing down their hard-earned fortunes to help those who need it most. For a great deal of the most affluent individuals and organisations today, charity is a chance to put their earnings towards a great cause. This is not just something restricted to the twenty-first century either, it has actually held true for thousands of years. Charity and altruism were deemed a central part of a good life and a healthy society, with the Ancient Greeks thinking philanthropy to be important to functioning democracy. It was here that the word itself stemmed, implying 'man-loving' in its original form. It was seen as a requirement of the wealthy to share their wealth for the health and wellbeing of the community, with wealthy residents helping with public causes like the maintenance of temples and city walls or funding public celebrations. We may not call it an obligation as such nowadays, but those who do not engage with charity in any kind will certainly see their reputations suffer.

As one may expect of anything throughout two thousand years, philanthropy meaning has actually evolved throughout the ages, and so has its focus. Following the middle ages, the primary source of philanthropic task moved from religious organizations like the church to wealthy people. At the same time, the focus of philanthropy shifted towards the towns and cities rather from the impoverished countryside. Throughout the following centuries, entrepreneur undertook a sense of duty towards those in need, especially throughout and after periods of war and turmoil which left many households struggling. Towards completion of the 19th century we started to see the establishment of philanthropic businesses like foundations to help handle big concerns, much like the one established by SJP nowadays.

Throughout the most challenging minutes in human history, charity has actually always existed to provide a helping hand to those in dire requirement. This was specifically true during the twentieth century, when personal philanthropy continued to support troops throughout the World Wars and their families who were left. During the Second World War in particular, foundations started to interact and became more competent. This is much the same structure as charity work takes these days, with a network of business and individuals collaborating to fund and enact projects, although the range and scope of philanthropic tasks is even more ambitious. Some foundations are taking on big international issues through their work, and corporate philanthropy is now the standard of contemporary organization practices with companies like Vanguard Group and Morgan Stanley adding to the process.