philanthropy

1 a gift of money or its equivalent to a charity, humanitarian cause, or public institution among the industrialist's philanthropies was a college scholarship fund for deserving students from the inner city Synonyms alms, benefaction, beneficence, charity, donation, contributionRelated Words offering, tithe; bequest, endowment, legacy; aid, assistance, dole, handout, relief, welfare; grant, subsidy; benevolence, bestowal, largesse (also largess), present, presentation

2 the giving of necessities and especially money to the needy much dedicated to philanthropy, the industrialist maintains a surprisingly modest lifestyle Synonyms almsgiving, dole, charityRelated Words altruism, do-gooding, do-goodism, humanism, humanitarianism; beneficence, benevolence, goodwill; alms, benefaction, contribution, donation; relief, welfare; endowment, fund, grant, subsidy

3 the quality or state of being generous a society dowager renowned for her philanthropy Synonyms bigheartedness, bountifulness, bounty, generosity, generousness, largesse (also largess), munificence, openhandedness, openheartedness, liberality, unselfishnessRelated Words beneficence, charity, kindliness, selflessness; kindness; gift, gratuity, lagniappe; tribute; extravagance, improvidence, lavishness, prodigality, wastefulness; spendthrift; dissipating, squanderingNear Antonyms conserving, economizing, economy, frugality, husbandry, providence, scrimping, skimping, thrift; conservation, saving; husbanding, managing; scraping; cutting backAntonyms cheapness, closeness, meanness, miserliness, parsimony, penuriousness, pinching, selfishness, stinginess, tightness, ungenerosity