Philanthropy

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Philanthropy is the voluntary act of donating money or goods or providing some other support to a charitable cause, usually over an extended period of time. In a more fundamental sense, philanthropy may encompass any altruistic activity which is intended to promote good or improve human quality of life. Someone who is well known for practicing philanthropy may sometimes be called a philanthropist. Although such individuals are often very wealthy, people may nevertheless perform philanthropic acts without possessing great wealth.

Philanthropy is a major source of income for artistic, musical, religious, and humanitarian causes, as well as educational institutions ranging from schools to universities (see patronage).

Philosophical views on philanthropy

Philanthropy is not always viewed as a universal good. Notable thinkers such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Ayn Rand opposed philanthropy on philosophical grounds, connecting it with the idea of the weak sponging off the strong, a view sometimes endorsed by those who oppose government welfare programs.

The purpose of philanthropy is also debated. Some equate philanthropy with benevolence and charity for the poor and needy. Others hold that philanthropy can be any altruistic giving towards any kind of social need that is not served by the market.

Some believe that philanthropy can be a means to build community by growing community funds and giving vehicles. When communities see themselves as being resource rich instead of asset poor, the community is in a better place to solve community problems.

Political views on philanthropy

Philanthropy is a private sector means of effecting social change without recourse to government mechanisms such as those represented by aid programs.

Governments are often supportive of philanthropic efforts. In many countries, those who donate money to a charity are given a tax break. Some governments are suspicious of philanthropic activities as possible grabs for favor (and votes/power in democracies) of portions of the population by non-governmental organizations.

Social activism and philanthropy

Social activists frequently criticize philanthrophic contributions by corporations whom activists consider "suspect". An example is the Harvard, Exxon, and South Africa case. Harvard University divested itself of Exxon stock after pressure and accusations that Exxon's doing business in South Africa contributed to apartheid. But when asked if they still wanted to receive philanthropic contributions from Exxon, Harvard said "yes". Some considered this morally inconsistent, others would consider it a warranted penance. If Harvard remained a stockholder, it could have voted to stop operations in the country. Instead, it sold the stock in protest. Exxon did in fact stop doing business in South Africa, as did other companies like Xerox, thereby costing employees their jobs and South Africa several contributors to a healthy economy. On the other hand, the international embargo against South Africa finally forced the white minority to grant political and human rights to its black and coloured citizens.

Uses of the word

Conventional Usage

By the conventional definition of philanthropy, donations are dedicated to a narrowly defined cause and the donation is targeted to make a recognizable change in social conditions. This often necessitates large donations and financial support sustained over time.

The need for a large financial commitment creates a distinction between philanthropy and charitable giving, which typically plays a supporting role in a charitable organization initiated by someone else. Thus, the conventional usage of philanthropy applies mainly to wealthy persons, and sometimes to a trust created by a wealthy person.

Many non-wealthy persons have dedicated – thus, donated – substantial portions of their time, effort and wealth to charitable causes. These people are not typically described as philanthropists because individual effort alone is seldom recognized as instigating significant change. These people are thought of as charitable workers but some people wish to recognize these people as philanthropists in honor of their efforts.

Technical definitions

Robert L. Payton expanded the conventional defintion of philanthropy in his 1988 book "Philanthropy: Voluntary Action For the Public Good." The text of this book and many of his writings are available at PaytonPapers.

Philanthropists

A philanthropist is someone who devotes his/her time, money or effort towards helping others. The label is most often applied to someone who gives large amounts to charity but can refer to anyone that gives their time, talent or money for the betterment of their community.

A philanthropist may not always find universal approval for his/her deeds. Common accusations include supporting an iniquitous cause (such as funding art instead of fighting world hunger) or having selfish motivation at heart (such as avoiding taxes with personal fame as side product). e.g. "Scots philanthropist submitted an offer for the building on behalf of the group earlier this year." The Scotsman, July 4, 2006

Notable philanthropists

  • Jackie Chan -
  • Aditya Kachru -
  • Mahatama Gandhi -
  • Jane Addams -
  • Paul Allen -
  • Walter Annenberg -
  • Thomas John Barnardo -
  • Samuel Augustus Barnett -
  • Avie Bennett -
  • Ruth Ann Besse -
  • Rt Hon Charles Booth -
  • Sir Richard Branson -
  • Warren Buffet - pledged 30.7 billion dollars worth of Berkshire Hathaway stock to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
  • Ansar Burney -
  • Nicholas Murray Butler - president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace from 1925 to 1945.
  • George Cadbury -
  • Andrew Carnegie - Donated money to build over 2500 libraries world-wide. Founder of the Carnegie Foundation and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
  • Mary Louise Milliken Childs -
  • Samuel Canning Childs -
  • Richard Churcher -
  • Mickey Beyer Clausen -
  • Bill Clinton -
  • Arthur Coles -
  • Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury -
  • Bill Cosby -
  • Charles Dickens -
  • James H. Dooley -
  • Anthony J. Drexel - founder of Drexel University
  • Henry Duncan -
  • Abdul Sattar Edhi -
  • Deborah Engerman -
  • Harry Fischel -
  • Edsel Ford - co-founder of the Ford Foundation.
  • Henry Ford - co-founder of the Ford Foundation.
  • Benjamin Franklin -
  • Elizabeth Fry -
  • John 'Mad Jack' Fuller -
  • Isabella Stewart Gardner -
  • Bill Gates - co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Melinda Gates - co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • David Geffen -
  • Hallie Geier -
  • J. Paul Getty - funded the construction of the Getty Villa, the original Getty Museum, and donated his art collection to it. Upon his death, left his fortune to the Getty Museum, which eventually expanded to the Getty Center in Los Angeles.
  • Barry Gibb -
  • Robin Gibb -
  • Maurice Gibb -
  • Noel Zbigniew Gondek -
  • Calouste Gulbenkian -
  • Rafic Hariri -
  • Edward Harkness -
  • Milton Hershey -
  • Johns Hopkins -
  • T.I. -
  • Michael Jackson -
  • J. C. Jacobsen -
  • Sir Ellis Kadoori -
  • Fred Kavli -
  • John P. Kee -
  • Alicia Keys -
  • Steve Kirsch -
  • Ian Koshnick -
  • Sebastian S. Kresge -
  • Joan Kroc -
  • Eugene Lang -
  • Alfred Lee Loomis -
  • Catherine T. MacArthur - co-founder of the MacArthur Foundation.
  • John D. MacArthur - co-founder of the MacArthur Foundation.
  • Joseph Mammana -
  • George Marchant -
  • Sir Josiah Mason -
  • Sir Robert Mayer -
  • Vince McMahon -
  • Linda McMahon - Honored by the Make a Wish Foundation.
  • Paul Mellon - major benefactor of arts and education, and co-founder of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
  • Ailsa Mellon-Bruce - co-founder of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
  • Gordon Moore -
  • Sir John Morden -
  • John Pierpont Morgan -
  • Genesio Morlacci -
  • Charles Stewart Mott -
  • Fridtjof Nansen -
  • Michael Nesmith -
  • Paul Newman -
  • George Peabody -
  • Lois Pope -
  • Linus Pauling - donated time and effort and spent personal funds to bring about the worldwide ban on above ground nuclear weapons testing.
  • Charles Pratt - founder of Pratt Institute
  • Robert Raikes -
  • William Marsh Rice -
  • John D. Rockefeller - founder of the Rockefeller Foundation and Rockefeller University.
  • John D. Rockefeller Jr. - dramatically expanded the Rockefeller Foundation and Rockefeller University. He also bought and then donated the land in Manhattan upon which the United Nations headquarters was built.
  • John D. Rockefeller 3rd - major third-generation Rockefeller philanthropist and founder of the Asia Society (1956), the Population Council (1952) and a reconstituted Japan Society, he was chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation for twenty years. He established the Rockefeller Public Service Awards in 1958. Among his many other achievements, he was the driving force behind the construction of the landmark Lincoln Center, built between 1959 and 1966, in New York City.
  • Nelson Rockefeller -
  • Winthrop Rockefeller -
  • Henry H. Rogers -
  • Julius Rosenwald -
  • Joseph Rowntree -
  • Saladin -
  • Sir Run Run Shaw -
  • Li Ka Shing -
  • George Soros -
  • Richard Stallman -
  • Sir Ivan Stedeford -
  • Ken Stiles -
  • Hunter S. Thompson -
  • Mother Teresa -
  • Ted Turner -
  • Cornelius Vanderbilt - funded Vanderbilt University.
  • William Henry Vanderbilt - cofounder of the Metropolitan Opera.
  • Jimmy Wales - founder of the WikiMedia Foundation.
  • Joseph Whitworth -
  • William Wilberforce -
  • Oprah Winfrey -
  • Clara Winthrop -
  • Steve Wozniak -
  • Sir Alfred Yarrow -
  • Sir Pradeep Varma -
  • Al-Waleed bin Talal


External links


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