Out of these experiences grew a tradition of citizen initiatives and individual efforts to promote the public welfare. Later, immigrants supported communities by giving through churches and forming groups to help the poor as well as organizing associations to assist each other in their new homeland. Native Americans and African Americans also had deeply rooted giving practices. Religious leaders encouraged their members to give to the poor and to the charitable works of their churches. Giving to needy people in their communities, the poor in other lands, the victims of natural disasters and to their churches was a strongly felt obligation for many people.
Religious beliefs are still an important motivation for being involved in philanthropy.
Early Philanthropists and Foundations Benjamin Franklin, the inventor and statesman of the colonial era, was an early philanthropist. He gave to improve his community and to provide opportunities for people to help themselves. He founded local civic organizations such as the volunteer fire company and institutions such as the Pennsylvania hospital, the university of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia public library. It was not until the early twentieth century that individuals generally began to use their philanthropy to seek ways to combat problems, conduct research and promote science. One of the early proponents of modern philanthropy was Andrew Carnegie, a wealthy business entrepreneur.