For 250 Years, Philanthropy Helped Build America. Now It Must Stand Up for It

Milestone birthdays call for both celebration and honest reflection, and America’s 250th is no exception.

As the world’s oldest democracy, we find ourselves at a complicated moment. Many of the institutions we have long depended on are facing growing skepticism and strain. Too many people are struggling to find their footing in an economy that doesn’t work for everyone. And philanthropy, which has been woven into the American story since the beginning, often seems uncertain about how loudly to speak, or whether to speak at all.

That hesitation is understandable. But if we let this anniversary pass without recommitting publicly to the work that has defined our sector for 250 years, we will have missed a critical opportunity.

What Philanthropy Built

The American model of giving is, by design, unique. In the colonial era, charity followed familiar patterns: The wealthy gave to the poor. But Benjamin Franklin had a different vision. As one historian captured it, Franklin asked why “everyday people” shouldn’t organize to build institutions that served them, rather than waiting on patronage from the wealthy. From Philadelphia’s first library and hospital to its volunteer fire department, Franklin’s vision was public-private, bottom-up, and civic in purpose. Read the full piece by Jeff Raikes, co-founder of the Raikes Foundation, in Inside Philanthropy.

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