Synonyms of philanthropy

philanthropy

noun

fə-ˈlan(t)-thrə-pē 

1

as in contribution

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 & Similar Words

• contribution
• donation
• charity
• alms
• benefaction
• offering
• beneficence
• assistance
• legacy
• endowment
• grant
• welfare
• bequest
• aid
• subsidy
• relief
• presentation
• benevolence
• tithe
• present
• dole
• largesse
• handout
• bestowal

2

as in charity

the giving of necessities and especially money to the needy

much dedicated to philanthropy, the industrialist maintains a surprisingly modest lifestyle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• charity
• humanism
• welfare
• humanitarianism
• almsgiving
• donation
• contribution
• altruism
• dole
• benevolence
• grant
• fund
• goodwill
• endowment
• do-goodism
• benefaction
• beneficence
• do-gooding
• alms
• subsidy
• relief

3

as in generosity

the quality or state of being generous

a society dowager renowned for her philanthropy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• generosity
• liberality
• kindness
• munificence
• unselfishness
• gift
• largesse
• bounty
• bountifulness
• generousness
• selflessness
• openheartedness
• charity
• openhandedness
• beneficence
• bigheartedness
• tribute
• kindliness
• extravagance
• lavishness
• wastefulness
• gratuity
• spendthrift
• prodigality
• improvidence
• lagniappe
• squandering
• dissipating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• economy
• selfishness
• conservation
• frugality
• thrift
• parsimony
• miserliness
• cheapness
• meanness
• stinginess
• closeness
• husbandry
• tightness
• saving
• providence
• pinching
• economizing
• conserving
• penuriousness
• managing
• ungenerosity
• skimping
• scrimping
• husbanding
• scraping
• cutting back

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of philanthropy

Powell Jobs is highly influential leader in business and philanthropy and committed investor in journalism and media. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026

The team also recognized Johnson for his off-field philanthropy and advocacy too. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Eugénie, empress of the French and wife of Napoleon III, received it in 1856 for her piety and philanthropy. — Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026

In a letter posted to the town website on Wednesday evening, Mayor Nichole Sterling and the mountain town’s board of trustees said that philanthropy is necessary to assuage the concerns of prospective bondholders. — Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026