The Difference Between Charity & Philanthropy

It’s not uncommon to see the words charity and philanthropy used interchangeably. Although they are similar concepts, the two words take on different meanings. 

Charity can be described as a reaction to an immediate situation, and the giving is short-term. It is often a response from an individual to the issue at hand, and it can take the form of donations or volunteering.

Philanthropy is a collective, proactive, organized response to the cause of a social issue, which requires a long-term and strategic technique. The strategies that philanthropies use might entail volunteering or donating as well, but it’s to help solve problems for the bigger picture.

Despite their different meanings, charity and philanthropy can coexist in various circumstances. Take natural disaster relief, for instance. A lot of us are apt to provide aid when we hear about a catastrophe, like donating food, clothing, and money when a destructive hurricane hits a community. This is charity. On the other hand, philanthropy aims to assess and improve every stage of disaster relief, from prevention to recovery.

A charitable person gives to those in need, but we can look at philanthropy as the next level of charity. Charity is a great, short-term solution, but philanthropy attempts to address the more prominent, deep-rooted global issues. Regardless of the cause, charity and philanthropy both have one simple thing in common: sharing love and compassion for others.