as in donors
a wealthy person who gives money and time to help make life better for other people
a philanthropist known to generously donate to those organizations that help the poor
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Recent Examples of philanthropists
The most effective philanthropists are not more generous, more analytical, or more sophisticated.
—
Kris Putnam-Walkerly, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Announced today during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the blended finance blueprint convened investors, philanthropists and industry experts to explore the mobilization of a $2 billion investment.
—Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 21 Jan. 2026
Flexibility Since the world is constantly changing along with its needs, philanthropists need to quickly adapt.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
In that vacuum, philanthropists like Taylor, Trott, and Scott are effectively writing their own rural policy agendas through foundations and grantmaking, deciding which towns get ambulances, which fire departments get radios, and which students get a shot at college.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
This stands as one of the largest single-year donations in history, placing Scott alongside philanthropists such as Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 8 Jan. 2026
Rich philanthropists may donate to groups calling for lower taxes.
—Ray Madoff, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Named for philanthropists Jane and Lloyd Pettit, the center opened in December of that same year, and on the first anniversary of its opening in 1993, the US Olympic trials were held there in preparation for the 1994 Winter Games.
—Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Ever since leaving royal life and relocating to California in 2020, Harry and Meghan have tried to fashion themselves as global thought-leaders, innovators, media moguls and philanthropists, initially buoyed by their multimillion-dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Kris Putnam-Walkerly, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Announced today during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the blended finance blueprint convened investors, philanthropists and industry experts to explore the mobilization of a $2 billion investment.
—Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 21 Jan. 2026
Flexibility Since the world is constantly changing along with its needs, philanthropists need to quickly adapt.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
In that vacuum, philanthropists like Taylor, Trott, and Scott are effectively writing their own rural policy agendas through foundations and grantmaking, deciding which towns get ambulances, which fire departments get radios, and which students get a shot at college.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
This stands as one of the largest single-year donations in history, placing Scott alongside philanthropists such as Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 8 Jan. 2026
Rich philanthropists may donate to groups calling for lower taxes.
—Ray Madoff, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Named for philanthropists Jane and Lloyd Pettit, the center opened in December of that same year, and on the first anniversary of its opening in 1993, the US Olympic trials were held there in preparation for the 1994 Winter Games.
—Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Ever since leaving royal life and relocating to California in 2020, Harry and Meghan have tried to fashion themselves as global thought-leaders, innovators, media moguls and philanthropists, initially buoyed by their multimillion-dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for philanthropists
Noun
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Find this story at Iowa Capital Dispatch, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.—
Clark Kauffman,
Des Moines Register,
28 Jan. 2026
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Global funding for school meals doubled from 2020 to 2024, and 99% of that comes from domestic budgets, not donors.—
Reem Alabali Radovan,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Jazz haunts with debts owed to its creators, and has a knack for revivals, collectives, new venues in the old forms, and stalwart clubs revivified by benefactors and grant funding.—
Celina Pereira,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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As a reward, his Spanish benefactors, Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, said Columbus would be entitled to ten percent of all the revenues from the new lands in perpetuity and the option to buy a one-eighth interest in any commercial venture and receive one-eighth of the profits.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Philanthropists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/philanthropists. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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