language

At this past year’s SoCap, I led an Open Space conversation around the language that we are using in the social business/enterprise/venture space. I have observed over the past few years, as this sector evolves and pushes boundaries, there is much inconsistency in how we communicate what we are doing.  These organizations are generating revenue by tackling some of the world’s biggest problems, yet there seems to be much confusion in the marketplace from those who are building the businesses and those who are investing in them.

I have been thinking a lot about the word "Philanthropy" lately.  Not because linguistics fascinates me, but because more and more frequently I am hearing from people how they are not "philanthropists".  This is usually in the context of the dollar value of which they donate, not their nature or charitable tendencies.

The word philanthropy comes from the Greek philanthropos, the love of mankind - Phil = Loving and Anthropos = Mankind.  Our use of the word philanthropy as it pertains to charitable donations was not brought into the common English lexicon until 1730.  At that point it time it was not associated with any value beyond someone who donated to charity.  In fact, it wasn't until major family foundations like Kellogg, Carnegie and Ford came along that the word took on the "large-dollar" value connotations. Read more »