Philanthropy, or the act of private, voluntary giving, has been a familiar term since it first entered the English language in the 17th century. Translated from the Latin term “philanthropy” or “love of humanity,” philanthropy permeates many social spheres and serves diverse social purposes including charity, humanitarianism, religious morality, and even manipulation for social control. Peter Kropotkin, a nineteenth-century evolutionary theorist, proposed that philanthropic behaviors aided the development of civilization and the survival of the human race. However, it appears that the idea of ​​altruistic giving was a conflicting concept in East Asian religious thought. For example, Confucius said that altruism was an important personal virtue. In contrast, the Taoist philosopher Chuang Tzu thought that philanthropy was a harmful aspect of human nature that disturbed people's well-being. Other pre-Greek notions of philanthropy were applied as religious duties performed to appease the gods. For example, both Hindu and Buddhist scriptures emphasize almsgiving for the poor and even for holy men, who often lived in poverty. Egyptian pharaohs believed that selfless giving and building tombs would appease the gods and ensure immortality. Both the Greeks and Romans practiced philanthropy. During this period, philanthropy was seen as a sign of good citizenship and democratic practice. The success and harmony of the polis or city-state was a matter highly valued by the Greeks and Romans. As a result, the Greeks and Romans did not practice charity in the way common today. Instead of giving to the poor, the rich invested in civic projects and cultural institutions for the betterment of the public on a mass social scale. Jews were… under a social obligation to share their wealth with the less fortunate. This theory, known as “The Gospel of Wealth,” spread to other wealthy American businessmen, including the Rockefellers and the Fords. They began to create donation foundations, which were initially viewed with fear by the public. During the 1950s, fear of communism began to spread through the nonprofit sectors, as many feared that their donations would support anti-American causes. Finally, it should be noted that today most philanthropy is practiced in Great Britain and the United States. The principles of individual responsibility and volunteering for the good of the people are more strongly respected in these places. These cultural values ​​have changed little over time for these countries, so while the practices and institutions for giving have changed, the intentions are largely the same.