Source   httpdictionaryreferencecombrowsephilanthropyst  philanthropy filanthruhpee Show IPA noun plural philanthropies   altruistic concern for human welfare and advancement usually manifested by donations of money property or work to needy persons by endowment of institutions of learning and hospitals and by generosity to other socially useful purposes   the activity of donating to such persons or purposes in this way to devote ones later years to philanthropy   a particular act form or instance of this activity The art museum was their favorite philanthropy   an organization devoted to helping needy persons or to other socially useful purposes