Philanthropy, or the act of private, benevolent giving, has been a familiar term since it 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 several social purposes, including charity, humanitarianism, religious morality, and even manipulation for the purposes of social control . Peter Kropotkin, a 19th-century evolutionary theorist, proposed that philanthropic behaviors contributed to the development of civilization and the survival of the human race. However, it appears that the idea of ​​selfless giving was a contradictory concept in early East Asian religious thought. For example, Confucius said that altruism was an important personal virtue. Conversely, the Taoist philosopher Chuang Tzu believed that philanthropy was a harmful aspect of human nature that disrupted people's well-being. Other pre-Greek notions of philanthropy were applied to religious duties performed to appease the gods. For example, Hindu and Buddhist scriptures emphasize almsgiving for the poor as well as for holy men, who often lived in poverty. Egyptian pharaohs believed that selfless giving and building tombs would appease the gods and guarantee immortality. The Greeks and Romans practiced philanthropy. At that time, philanthropy was seen as a sign of good citizenship and democratic practice. The success and harmony of the polis or city-state was a highly valued issue among the Greeks and Romans. Therefore, the Greeks and Romans did not practice charity in the way that is common today. Instead of the rich giving to the poor, the rich invested in civic projects and cultural institutions for the public good on a mass social scale. The Jews were... middle of paper ...... aires had a social obligation to share their wealth with those 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 foundations for donations, which were initially perceived with fear by the public. During the 1950s, fear of communism began to spread throughout the nonprofit sectors, as many feared their donations would support anti-American causes. Finally, it is worth noting that today most philanthropy is practiced in Britain and the United States. The principles of individual responsibility and volunteerism for the good of the people are particularly respected there. These cultural values ​​have changed little over time in these countries. So, even though giving practices and institutions have changed, the intentions are essentially the same..