Keep reading for a short outline of the manner ins which charity has actually developed over the centuries, and how it continues to evolve nowadays.
For as long as there have been records of human civilisation there has been a history of compassion, providing, and philanthropy being lauded within society. Charity is not something that has come along with contemporary famous philanthropists; charity and generosity has actually held a central position in a virtuous life since the birth of ancient civilisations and faiths. The Ancient Greeks thought philanthropy to be necessary to democracy, much like we do nowadays. This is really where the word originated, from 'philanthrōpos', born from the Promethean tale and implying to love one's fellow human. It was viewed as an obligation of the rich within society to assist with civic duties, such as the maintenance of temples, city walls, and festivals; if abundant residents failed to share their wealth, they were at serious risk of being ostracised from the society by both their financial peers and those of a lower socio-economic standing. One might be able to see echoes in the expectations that individuals have of the extremely rich these days.
The philanthropy meaning has altered a lot since its conception a couple of thousand years back, as has the focus of charity and who is accountable for it. After the Middle Ages and its rural feudalism the focus of philanthropy shifted towards the towns and cities, and spiritual institutions stopped being the main source of charity work. Throughout the following years, humanitarian values developed to the point that there was an understanding of public obligation to those in need, especially after periods of war and upheaval. It was not till the end of the 19th century, however, that philanthropy started to take on a form more reminiscent of modern-day charity, whereupon more institutionalised philanthropic businesses like foundations had a far-reaching influence on the global state of education, culture, science, and public health. This is where the modern-day model of charity began to take shape, as lots of wealthy people and companies like SJP establish foundations for humanitarian endeavours right now.
Although humanitarian work is an incredibly ancient thing, it has ended up being a lot more organised in the last few years. The coordination of philanthropic institutions increased throughout the turbulent twentieth century, particularly during the 2nd World War, meaning that various foundations interacted and ended up being more professional. With civil rights movements coming to the fore after the war, community-led philanthropy began to emerge that supported minority causes in particular. A mix of community-led and more institutionalised philanthropy work is typically how charity works today, with a substantial range of supporting players and projects. Not only are rich people taking part in this day and age, but corporate philanthropy is now the standard of modern-day business practice, with companies like Morgan Stanley and Vanguard Group putting money aside for good causes too, something that is likely to develop more in years to come.