What is a philanthropist?

Philanthropists change the world in many different ways. With their commitment, they donate time, knowledge or money to support people in need. But what is a philanthropist? And how can you become one too?

Famous philanthropists such as Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates or Jeff Bezos are often the first people who come to mind when you hear the term “philanthropist”. They are known for their enormous fortunes, which they use for charitable causes around the world. But what exactly makes them philanthropists? The personal attitude and various forms behind philanthropic action often remain hidden – and that being a philanthropist means more than just being wealthy and generous.

The origin of the word reveals what a philanthropist is

The English term “philanthropist” is particularly common in connection with well-known personalities and is frequently used in an international context. To understand what a philanthropist is, it is first worth taking a look at the definition of philanthropy. The term comes from the ancient Greek: phílos (φίλος) means “friend” and ánthrōpos (ἄνθρωπος) means “human being” – literally philanthropist. According to Duden, the word also means benefactor. The Center for Philanthropy Studies (CEPS) at the University of Basel defines philanthropy as “any private voluntary action for a charitable purpose”.

Philanthropists are people who voluntarily do good, help others and work for the common good. Their commitment is free from political or religious constraints and independent of state or economic activity. The aim of philanthropists is to improve the living conditions of others.

Being a philanthropist – even without millions in your bank account

Do you see yourself as a philanthropist or want to be one, but don’t have a huge fortune? Philanthropy is often associated with supporting wealthy elites, but it’s clear: you don’t have to be a millionaire to be considered a philanthropist.

The decisive factor is therefore not your bank balance, but your willingness to do good – be it through time, commitment, knowledge or donations in kind. The aim is to improve the living conditions of others – and not primarily to donate large sums of money.

What does a philanthropist do?

Philanthropists actively support charitable causes. The aim is always to create sustainable improvements for society through targeted engagement – whether through direct support or by promoting long-term change processes.

Whether combating poverty, promoting education, healthcare, science and research or environmental and climate protection – philanthropy is as diverse as the social challenges themselves. This also calls for a wide range of philanthropic commitment. Accordingly, there are numerous philanthropists who dedicate themselves to a wide variety of tasks in these areas. They carry out their activities in the various fields of activity either on a voluntary or full-time basis.

Voluntary commitment

Many philanthropists invest their time and skills on a voluntary basis. They support charitable projects, organize events or help people directly on site. Examples include looking after refugees, gardening together in urban green spaces or accompanying senior citizens to medical appointments. Such commitment is often personally motivated and makes a significant contribution to strengthening social cohesion in a community.

Full-time commitment

For some, philanthropy becomes a vocation. Some philanthropists work full-time in foundations or nonprofits, where they develop long-term strategies to promote charitable goals, manage projects or coordinate fundraising activities. Others set up their own charitable foundation or NGO to tackle social challenges in a specific area and pool resources.

As a donor, am I also a philanthropist?

Well-known philanthropists are often best known for the large sums of money they donate to charitable organizations or specific projects. But even for private individuals, philanthropic action primarily means supporting charitable initiatives and foundations through monetary or in-kind donations – whether as a supporting member of an NGO or simply through a targeted donation on Spheriq.

But what does that mean in concrete terms? Are you already a philanthropist if you make a small one-off donation or, for example, give clothes to an organization like Caritas?

The answer is yes. Every contribution counts and makes a difference – regardless of the amount or size of the donation. Philanthropy begins with a willingness to help others and to work for the common good, whether with donations of money, time or goods.