Philanthropy

Philanthropy is the art of dispensing amounts of wealth to an organization or cause, with little or no thought given to how it could be spent for one's own desires.

Phi*lan"thro*py (?), n. [L. philanthropia, Gr. : cf. F. philanthropie.]

Love to mankind; benevolence toward the whole human family; universal good will; desire and readiness to do good to all men; -- opposed to misanthropy.

Jer. Taylor.

<-- (2) active effort to promote human welfare; humanitarian activity. [i.e., an action, not merely a state of mind] -->

<-- 2. an organization whose purpose is to engage in philanthropy(2), and is supported by funds from one or a small number of wealthy individuals; a type of charity, the source of whose funds is typically from a wealthy individual or a corporation, or a trust fund established by a wealthy individual. It is distinguished from other charitable organizations in that the source of funds of other charities may come from a large number of sources, or from public solicitation. -->

© Webster 1913.