Philanthropy has long been a main part of a fair and thriving culture, however the way that it works has changed throughout the years.
One might, when one hears the word philanthropy, instantly think of a handful of famous philanthropists who are well known for handing out their fortunes to causes that they appreciate. This is something that has actually held true for many thousands of years, with the first recorded instance of institutionalised philanthropy, in addition to the genesis of the philanthropy meaning and word, taking place over 2 thousand years ago in ancient Greece. During this period, the word indicated something more comparable to 'caring of one's fellow man', or humanism, than the restrictions of wealth one might apply to the term these days, but nonetheless rich people played a crucial charity role in the culture. Rich people were anticipated to give back to the community, helping to put up the cash for repairs to public works like city walls or temples in addition to financing celebrations and other public events. Being pinchpenny was not regarded well, and if a rich individual was not seen to be a benefactor, they could be ostracised from the society completely.
Many different entities have been responsible for charity work throughout the ages. Although wealthy individuals and celebrity philanthropists may be seen as the central charitable force in the modern world, that is not necessarily entirely true, nor has it been for much of history. In the middle ages, it was religious institutions like the church that would have been the main charitable hubs, both within the community and on bigger level undertakings. That altered with the coming of commercial enterprise when rich people became more powerful, and then shifted again towards the end of the nineteenth century when foundations started to emerge that were much better set up and could dedicate more attention to getting things done. This is much the same way that charity is structured these days, whether those foundations are developed by grassroots groups, wealthy individuals, or companies like SJP.
The way that charity has been financed has actually altered a good deal throughout the course of human history, moving between different entities which hold the most power and wealth, just as the focus of charity work has changed as various requirements have actually emerged. These days, there are a great many issues that have to be addressed, from widening inequality to the climate crisis, and charity will undoubtedly play a crucial part in that process. Wealthy individuals with bank accounts that would make a middle ages kings blush have their part to play, however so do the businesses that are the central hubs of financial generation in the twenty-first century through things like corporate philanthropy. Whether that is establishing a foundation of their own or developing ESG commitments, companies like Morgan Stanley and Vanguard Group are starting to do so.