ABSTRACT
In order for a new science to develop, an essential first step is to define the domain that is central to it. A look at the past clearly reveals that philanthropy has a long tradition throughout the world. It also shows that philanthropy is inextricably bound up with the diverse cultures of societies and adopts different organizational forms and means of expression according to the state and nature of social development in a specific country. In consequence, there is no all-purpose definition of philanthropy. History shows that the concept is contextually defined, that is it is given form and content by the diverse social and cultural relationships that exist.
