A brief chronicle of philanthropy covering two thousand years

A brief chronicle of philanthropy covering two thousand years

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As civilisation has established throughout the world, so has the manner in which people and organisations help those in need.

Most of us will acknowledge and appreciate the role that famous philanthropists play in helping the world in this day and age, passing on their hard-earned fortunes to assist those who require it most. For a great deal of the most affluent people and organisations these days, charity is an opportunity to put their revenues towards a good cause. This is not just something limited to the 21st century either, it has actually held true for thousands of years. Charity and benevolence were deemed a main part of a good life and a healthy society, with the Ancient Greeks thinking philanthropy to be vital to operating democracy. It was here that the word itself came from, implying 'man-loving' in its original form. It was viewed as a requirement of the rich to share their wealth for the wellness of the community, with rich residents helping with public causes like the maintenance of temples and city walls or financing public festivals. We might not call it an obligation as such nowadays, however those who do not engage with charity in any type will certainly see their reputations suffer.

As one may anticipate of anything over the course of two thousand years, philanthropy meaning has actually developed throughout the ages, and so has its focus. Following the middle ages, the main source of philanthropic task moved from spiritual institutions like the church to wealthy people. Simultaneously, the focus of philanthropy shifted towards the towns and cities rather from the impoverished countryside. Throughout the following centuries, business owners accepted a sense of obligation towards those in need, particularly during and after durations of war and upheaval which left many households having a hard time. Towards the end of the 19th century we started to see the establishment of philanthropic businesses like foundations to assist deal with big concerns, similar to the one established by SJP nowadays.

Throughout the most tough moments in human history, charity has constantly existed to lend an assisting hand to those in dire requirement. This was especially real throughout the twentieth century, when private philanthropy continued to support troops throughout the World Wars and their households who were left behind. Throughout the 2nd World War in particular, foundations began to work together and ended up being more specialist. This is much the same structure as charity work takes now, with a network of companies and individuals interacting to finance and enact projects, although the variety and scope of philanthropic tasks is much more ambitious. Some foundations are taking on substantial worldwide issues through their work, and corporate philanthropy is now the requirement of contemporary business practices with companies like Vanguard Group and Morgan Stanley adding to the process.