Philanthropy

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Philanthropy \Phi*lan"thro*py\, n. [L. philanthropia, Gr.
     filanqrwpi`a: 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.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     2. An active effort to promote human welfare; humanitarian
        activity. in this sense, it is an action, not merely a
        state of mind.
        [PJC]
  
     3. 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.
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  philanthropy
       n : voluntary promotion of human welfare [syn: {philanthropic
           gift}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  43 Moby Thesaurus words for "philanthropy":
     BOMFOG, Benthamism, Christian charity, Christian love, agape, aid,
     almsgiving, altruism, assistance, beneficence, benevolence,
     benevolent disposition, benevolentness, benignity, bigheartedness,
     brotherly love, caritas, charitableness, charity, contribution,
     do-goodism, donation, flower power, generosity, giving, goodwill,
     grace, grant, greatheartedness, help, humanitarianism,
     largeheartedness, largesse, liberality, love, love of mankind,
     magnanimity, patronage, philanthropism, thoughtfulness,
     utilitarianism, welfarism, well-disposedness