source phi lan thro py fi lan thruh pee show ipa noun plural phi lan thro pies 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 one's 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