Anyone can be a philanthropist and be more effective at making a difference. Here’s how:
A philanthropist is a person who donates time, money, experience, skills or talent to help create a better world. Anyone can be a philanthropist, regardless of status or net worth.
- By ADAM HAYES
- Updated April 13, 2022
- Reviewed by MARGARET JAMES
- Fact checked by YARILET PEREZ
What is philanthropy?
Greek playwright Aeschylus coined the term philanthropy in the 5th century BCE. It meant “love of humanity.” Today, philanthropy means generosity in all its forms and is often defined as giving gifts of “time, talent and treasure” to help make life better for other people. You can practice philanthropy by making a monetary gift, such as a donation to a cause you believe in. You can also practice philanthropy by giving your time—serving in a soup kitchen, tutoring a teen or engaging in any other volunteer activity that aims to improve lives. So the answer to “what is a philanthropist” is a person who exhibits these behaviors, regardless of how many resources (or how few) that person has.
Who are famous philanthropists?
Some philanthropists are known for giving away substantial sums to aid society—people like John D. Rockefeller and Warren Buffett. Others are known for their good works, such as Mother Teresa and Paul Farmer.
But the vast majority of philanthropists aren’t famous—and many people volunteer instead of or in addition to what they contribute financially. According to this study on volunteerism, more than 60 percent of charitable donors are also recent volunteers.
What are the benefits of being a philanthropist?
Many philanthropists are driven by a deep desire to solve social problems and help others. In addition, the U.S. federal tax code incentivizes giving in a variety of ways, providing donors with deductions against income, capital gains and estate taxes for charitable contributions. A growing body of scientific evidence also shows that philanthropy benefits the giver as well as the receiver in terms of well-being. Researchers have found that philanthropy contributes to the following positive effects:
- Greater overall happiness
- Lower stress levels
- Better physical health
- Heightened sense of connection to others
How can I become a philanthropist?
You don’t need millions of dollars to be a philanthropist. You can simply donate “time, talent or treasure” toward doing good, but you can increase the impact of your giving by thinking strategically. Educational resources like Boost Your Giving IQ provides worksheets and other tools for those interested in smarter giving. These tools can help you decide what’s important to you and then create an action plan that maximizes your resources.
Additionally, you may be able to give more to your charitable mission by using specific financial strategies, such as contributing long-term appreciated securities instead of cash or setting up a donor-advised fund. And some donors set up giving circles, which bring individuals together to pool their resources around a common cause to have a greater impact. There are many alternatives, each with its own requirements and benefits.
What is philanthropy like in the 21st century?
Increasing transparency into nonprofit operations, advances in technology and changing attitudes toward wealth continue to shape the way individuals approach their giving, according to a study of more than 3,000 donors on the 2016 future of philanthropy.
Transparency: Many donors have increased their focus on results. According to the report, 41 percent of donors say they have changed their giving because of what they learned about nonprofit effectiveness.
Technology: More than a quarter (27 percent) of donors say that they have changed their approach to giving because technology has provided tools for researching and funding charitable projects and organizations.
Changing attitudes: Some donors say that they have changed their giving because of trends such as donating wealth to charity rather than passing it on to family.
In addition to changes in overall approaches to giving, donors are also changing how they finance their giving. The following strategies are becoming more popular and common:
Impact investing: Investing that aims to achieve specific social or environmental benefits in addition to a financial return. Also called social impact investing, it puts markets to work for profit and global good.
Donations of non-cash assets: Converting stocks and securities, limited partnership interests, real estate and other non-cash assets into funds for charitable giving. In 2021, two-thirds of contributions to Fidelity Charitable were non-cash assets.
Donor-advised funds: A philanthropic account that allows donors to make a contribution to a charity, qualify for an immediate tax deduction and then recommend grants over time. It’s the fastest-growing charitable giving vehicle in the United States because it’s a simple, flexible and tax-efficient way to give to charity.
What Is Philanthropy?
Philanthropy involves charitable giving to worthy causes on a large scale, but it is much more than just a charitable donation. Philanthropy is an effort an individual or organization undertakes based on an altruistic desire to improve human welfare, and wealthy individuals sometimes establish private foundations to facilitate their philanthropic efforts. Nonprofits are organizations set up to support a variety of social causes, such as educational, health, scientific, public safety, and human rights. In the United States, organizations that qualify as nonprofits are exempt from federal tax liability under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 501(c).(1)
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Philanthropy refers to charitable acts or other good works that help others or society as a whole.
- Philanthropy can include donating money to a worthy cause or volunteering time, effort, or other forms of altruism.
- Increased transparency is a serious matter for many nonprofits, and how funds are obtained and used should be carefully documented. Technology, including social media, has also shaped how many individuals give to others.
- Andrew Carnegie is one of America’s most famous philanthropists, noted for the large scale of his charitable contributions, which included building more than 2,500 libraries worldwide.
- In modern times, philanthropy is often undertaken by those seeking tax breaks, in addition to feeling good and helping others.
Understanding Philanthropy
Philanthropy refers to charitable acts or other good works like volunteering your time or efforts that help others or contribute to the well-being of society overall. For some people, philanthropy means donations of money, often large sums, to support or create university buildings, research centers, or fund four-year college scholarships. For others, acts of philanthropy mean an annual donation to a local theater, food pantry, or public school. There are many ways to make charitable contributions on a local to a global scale, including corporate philanthropy. There are also individual philanthropists. Philanthropy may be done for tax breaks or altruism, or a combination of the two things. Anyone can be a philanthropist if they give of their talent, time, money, or skills.
The word philanthropy traces its origins to the Latin word philanthropia and the Greek word philanthrōpia, which mean love or kindness to mankind.
History of Philanthropy
Philanthropy dates back to Greek society. For instance, Plato instructed his nephew in his will to use the proceeds of the family farm to fund the academy that he founded in 347 B.C. The money helped students and faculty keep the academy running.(2) Around 150 years later, Pliny the Younger contributed one-third of the funds for a Roman school for young boys. He instructed the fathers of the students to come up with the rest.(3) The intention was to keep young Romans educated in the city rather than abroad. In 1630, John Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony preached to Puritan settlers that the rich should care for the poor, who could not help themselves.(4) And in 1638, John Harvard laid the foundations for Harvard University after bequeathing half of his estate to found the school.(5) More modern and notable philanthropists include Mother Teresa and Norman D. Rockefeller. In the 21st century, philanthropy continues to be practiced in many forms by individuals like Warren Buffett, Melinda Gates, and Dolly Parton, as well as corporations.
Benefits of Philanthropy
There are many benefits to being a philanthropist. Experts conclude that charitable giving can improve one’s emotional and even physical well-being, and philanthropists have the satisfaction of knowing they have contributed to the greater good.(6) In fact, some studies show that philanthropists have less depression, higher self-esteem, lower blood pressure, and may even live longer than those who don’t give.(7) The benefits of philanthropy are not limited to individuals. Corporations that support charitable giving receive a wealth of offerings from building a better public image, creating more vital brand awareness, and attracting new partners and talent who may be attracted to a company that contributes to charities. In addition, employees who work for companies that give back to society are happier and contribute more to their jobs. And, because corporations are created to make money, a strong philanthropic streak often boosts sales and new customers.
Philanthropy and Taxes
While it is true that individuals benefit from charitable giving when tax time comes, some benefit more than others. The IRS allows most individuals to deduct around 60% of their adjusted gross income (AGI).(8) There are very wealthy individuals who use charitable giving to shield themselves from large tax bills.9 But some say billionaires are dodging paying their fair share of taxes under the guise of charitable giving to the needy.(10)
Statistics on Giving
- Americans and U.S. organizations gave about $484.85 billion to national charities in 2021. That number increased 4% from the previous year’s estimated total of $466.23 billion, according to Giving USA as reported by Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Some of the wealthiest Americans gave as much as $15 billion during the year, which represented 5% of all giving by individuals.(11)
- Some of the highlights from Giving USA’s annual report include:
- Roughly $326.87 billion in donations by individuals
- An estimated $90.88 billion by foundations and other organizations
- More than $46 billion through bequests ,which are made through trusts and wills
- More than $28 billion in corporate donations(11)
- Religious organizations ($135.78 billion), education ($70.79), and human services ($65.33) received the most money. Donations to environmental and animal organizations (11%), foundations (9.3%), and health (7.7%) grew the most. These figures were not adjusted for inflation.(11)
- Although the number rose from 2020, experts at Giving USA say the total didn’t keep up with inflation. These were some of the challenges faced by individuals, corporations, and nonprofits alike during and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic.(11)
Examples of Philanthropists
Many people in the United States give money to causes in which they believe. The following are just some of the examples of people and corporations that engage in philanthropic activities.
Andrew Carnegie
Perhaps the most famous example of philanthropy came from Andrew Carnegie, simply because of the scale of his giving. Carnegie’s wealth helped build more than 2,500 libraries all over the world. He also endowed several universities and a charitable trust that still runs 100 years after Carnegie’s death in 1919.(12). Estimates of his total charitable contributions exceed an estimated $350 million. Carnegie lived up to his credo that a man who dies rich dies disgraced, and the rest of society learned to follow his example.
The Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation’s legacy of giving is another example of how philanthropy works, The corporation was established by Edsel Ford, the son of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford. The foundation focuses on strengthening democracy, improving economic opportunity, and advancing education.(13)
Some of the areas the organization covers include:
- Civic engagement and government
- Disability inclusion
- Gender, racial and ethnic justice
- Natural resources and climate change(14)
Bill and Melinda Gates
Billionaire and Microsoft mogul Bill Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda, established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support global development and global health programs. The organization works globally and in the United States to research and combat disease and to fight poverty. According to the foundation’s website, it has spent almost $54 billion on charitable giving since 2000.(15)
Mother Teresa
You don’t have to be a billionaire or give money away to be considered a philanthropist. In fact, there are notable individuals who aren’t ultra-rich and are known for their philanthropic efforts. Mother Teresa is one of the most famous examples. The Catholic nun set up the Order of the Missionaries of Charity (now known simply as the Missionaries of Charity) in Kolkata, India, in 1950. The goal of the organization was to provide vulnerable communities with “material and spiritual welfare.(16)
What Is the Difference Between Charity and Philanthropy?
While some use the words charity and philanthropy interchangeably, philanthropy often casts a broader net of giving. Its role is to help society or groups in the community flourish over a long-term period. Charity is usually based on individual giving and helping in a short-term way, like donating coats to the homeless in winter, helping out or contributing goods to a local food pantry, or sending money to a scholarship fund. These are all acts of charity but may not be considered philanthropic efforts like building a school or a library or donating millions to a scholarship fund.
Which Philanthropist Has Donated the Most Money?
According to an annual report in Forbes magazine, Warren Buffet has donated the most money, $46.1 billion, over his 91 years, as of January 2022.(17)
How Can I Become a Philanthropist?
Anyone can become a philanthropist, even if they are not wealthy individuals. You can donate your time, efforts, and cash to a specific cause, and over time, you may become known as a philanthropist.
What Is Corporate Philanthropy?
Corporate philanthropy is the act of giving to charitable causes and/or organizations by corporations. The most common way of giving through a corporation is by donating money but there are other ways to do so. Some of them include volunteering (like when employees donate their time to charities), scholarships, community investments, and sponsorships.
What Are the Different Types of Philanthropy?
Philanthropy can take on many different forms. It can be done by individuals and corporations. There can be a combination of both, where a company does matching donations whenever someone makes a donation. Or it can be done by bequest, which means instructions are left to give money and other assets to charity in a trust or someone’s will. People can donate money directly to charity, fund scholarships, or offer grants and stipends. And it isn’t just money that falls under the philanthropic umbrella. In fact, people can donate their time through volunteer work.
The Bottom Line
Many of the world’s billionaires donate a good portion of their wealth to charitable causes. And it can be hard to live up to that reputation. Contrary to what you may think, you don’t have to be among the ultra-rich to be a philanthropist. Donating some of your monthly income may feel like the only way you can do good in the world but there are other ways to make a difference in the world. Giving some of your free time to causes you believe in is also a great way to become a philanthropist.
ARTICLE SOURCES
- Internal Revenue Service. “Exemption Requirements – 501(c)(3) Organizations.”
- The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. “Plato: The Academy.”
- Dix, T. K. “Pliny’s Library at Comum.” Libraries and Culture, 1996, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp 85-102.
- com. “A Model of Christian Charity: JOHN WINTHROP 1630.”
- The Colonial Society of Massachusetts. “TRANSACTIONS OF THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS MARCH MEETING, 1919.”
- Cleveland Clinic. “Why Giving is Good for Your Health.”
- “People Who Give, Live Longer.“
- Internal Revenue Service. “Charitable Contribution Deductions.”
- Fidelity Charitable. “9 Ways to Reduce Your Taxable Income by Giving to Charity.”
- The Guardian. “We Don’t Want Billionaires’ Charity. We Want Them to Pay Their Taxes.”
- Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. “Giving USA: Total U.S. charitable giving remained strong in 2021, reaching $484.85 billion.”
- Carnegie Corporation of New York. “Andrew Carnegie’s Story.”
- The Ford Foundation. “History.”
- Ford Foundation. “Disrupting systems to advance social justice.”
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “About Us: Our Story.”
- Missionaries of Charity. “About Us.”
- Forbes magazine. “America’s Top Givers 2022: The 25 Most Philanthropic Billionaires.”
