Since the ancient Greeks philanthropy has been fundamental to a healthy and productive culture, and similar holds true these days.
One might, when one hears the word philanthropy, quickly 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 been the case for lots of thousands of years, with the first documented example of institutionalised philanthropy, as well as the inception of the philanthropy meaning and word, taking place over two thousand years back in ancient Greece. Throughout this period, the word implied something more comparable to 'caring of one's fellow person', or humanism, than the limitations of wealth one may apply to the term today, but nonetheless wealthy people played an important charity role in the culture. Wealthy people were anticipated to give back to the society, assisting to put up the cash for repair work to public works like city walls or temples along with financing festivals and other public events. Being pinchpenny was not regarded well, and if a wealthy person was not seen to be a benefactor, they could be ostracised from the society altogether.
Many different entities have been accountable for charity work throughout the ages. Although rich people and celebrity philanthropists may be seen as the central charitable force in the contemporary world, that is not always 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 primary charitable centers, both within the town and on bigger level projects. That changed with the coming of industry when wealthy people ended up being more powerful, and after that moved once again towards the end of the nineteenth century when foundations began to spring up that were better organised and could dedicate more attention to getting things done. This is much the same manner in which charity is structured now, whether those foundations are built by grassroots groups, wealthy individuals, or companies like SJP.
The way that charity has been funded has changed a good deal throughout the course of human history, moving in between various entities which hold the most power and wealth, just as the focus of charity work has actually altered as various requirements have actually emerged. Nowadays, there are a great many concerns that need to be addressed, from widening inequality to the climate crisis, and charity will inevitably play an important role in that process. Wealthy individuals with bank accounts that would make a medieval kings blush have their part to play, but 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 setting up a foundation of their own or establishing ESG commitments, companies like Morgan Stanley and Vanguard Group are starting to do so.