Some people think philanthropy is just about foundations giving away lots of money, but that’s only one part of the picture. Philanthropy is really about people giving their time, care, and help to causes they care about.

Very simply put, philanthropy can be explained as anything you do to make the world around you a better place.

As you’ll find by exploring this site, acts of philanthropy can take many forms, ranging from donating a large sum of money to a charity  to creating a community garden in your neighborhood or volunteering your time to help out at a soup kitchen.

Sometimes when  people get rich and famous they use their money and fame to start a foundation or get attention for causes they care about. You’ve probably heard of many of the people listed on the ‘famous and celebrity philanthropists’ part of this site.

Go there to find out about the charity work of Britney Spears, Tiger Woods, Bill and Melinda Gates, Magic Johnson,  Mariah Carey, Oprah Winfrey, Bono, and many more.

In the ‘get involved’ area, you’ll find links to sites that offer opportunities for you to get involved in philanthropy and volunteering.

If you’re already volunteering or working in some other kind of philanthropy, we’d like to hear your story and post it on this site so others can learn from your experience. Find out more...

To learn more about philanthropy in the United States, visit the Web site of the Council On Foundations to view An Abbreviated History Of the Philanthropic Tradition In The United States.


What Is a Foundation?

A foundation is a nonprofit organization that gives money (grants) and sometimes equipment and other supplies to organizations or people who need help.

When people talk about foundations they usually mean private foundations like The Ford Foundation, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. What can be confusing sometimes is that even some of the largest foundations are not called foundations, like the Lilly Endowment and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

At the Foundation Center's Web site you can learn about how people apply for grants. If you'd like to learn more about foundations and their history, how they're defined by the Internal Revenue Service, and how they work, click here.