As human beings, most of us have an innate drive to care for our fellow humans. There is much meaning and fulfillment in giving to those in need and contributing to the greater good of humanity. Philanthropy in its basic form is also encouraged by all religions as the service to man is nothing shorter than service to the divine. So what is the history of philanthropy, and where did it originate?
It all starts with the idea of giving
The act of charitable donation has existed in all cultures. The concept of tax or “tithe” was instituted by the ancient Hebrews to help the poor. It was considered virtuous to give what one could to the less fortunate instead of holding on to wealth.
The beginnings of philanthropy
The word “philanthropy” did not appear until 500 BCE in a drama called “Prometheus Bound” by Aeschylus. This is what most people point to as the beginning of the ideas since the word Philanthropy can be split into ‘Phil’ meaning Love and ‘antro’ meaning people. Therefore philanthropy means to love people. In history, the generous donation of public aid by Roman emperor Augustus to 200,000 people was considered an act of philanthropy.
Philanthropy in the medieval times
Charitable giving in the modern form started taking form in the 1600s. The Charitable Uses Act of 1601 defined charity and all the donations that can be classified as such, setting the tone for the future. Fast-forward to 1900, and the existence of the global economic systems, world wars, recessions, and famines brought charitable acts to the forefront. People supported struggling communities and countries after wars, and most of the giving standards in place today were set.
Philanthropy today
Today philanthropy is a well-known idea, and people of all economic backgrounds can pool resources on different platforms to help different causes. The National Philanthropic Trust published that Americans donated 471.44 billion in 2020, representing a 5.1% jump from the previous year.
Indians also played their invaluable part by donating during the pandemic. Indian culture is rooted deep within the traits of giving and a sense of community. This was evident in how Indians came together and donated to multiple causes to make the tough times just a little bit better for others. According to a report by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), philanthropic activities rose by a whopping 43% during the pandemic in India.
It is not uncommon to see the ultra-rich investing their time and resources into activities that benefit people in the impoverished regions of the world. The definition of philanthropy can also be extended to those who donate their money, time, resources, experience, talent, or skills for the betterment of the world.
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