The Philanthropy Phenomenon: A Tale of Two Nations and Their Views on Humanity

Imagine a world where everyday people, inspired by their beliefs, band together to feed the hungry, educate the young, and heal the sick—not because the government mandates it, but out of a deep sense of shared human worth. This is the essence of philanthropy: voluntary giving of time, money, or resources to improve society.

I realize that most of you already know this and probably even take it for granted. However, given all the propaganda these days on social media, glorifying China and communism, it’s good take a look at this often neglected facet of life in free countries like the United States. Sadly, many young people in America aren’t familiar with this aspect of American exceptionalism.

Americans donated a staggering $592.5 billion in 2024 alone, fueling everything from hospitals and schools to disaster relief and arts programs. This isn’t just pocket change; it supports an entire nonprofit sector that employs about 10% of the workforce and contributes roughly 5-6% to the economy, bridging gaps where government and businesses fall short. Without it, we’d see a lot more poverty, less innovation, and weaker communities—think fewer scholarships for kids, shuttered food banks, or stalled medical research.

Now contrast that with China, the world’s second-largest economy. It should be trailing the United States as a close second, one might assume. However, that’s not the case. Philanthropy is far smaller, totaling around $17-20 billion annually, or just 0.1-0.16% of GDP. It’s like a trickle compared to America’s flood. This limited giving means fewer independent charities tackling issues like rural poverty or environmental crises, putting more pressure on the state to handle social needs. Economically, it misses out on the job creation and innovation that nonprofits spark in the US.

But why such a difference?

It boils down to history, culture, and fundamentally different ways of seeing fellow humans—rooted in America’s Christian heritage versus China’s atheistic framework.

America’s Philanthropic Roots: A Christian Legacy from the Start

Philanthropy in America isn’t a modern invention; it’s woven into the nation’s fabric, dating back to its founding in the 1600s. Early settlers, many fleeing religious persecution in Europe, brought a strong Christian ethos that emphasized charity as a divine calling. Take John Winthrop, a Puritan leader on the ship Arbella in 1630. In his famous sermon “A Model of Christian Charity,” he urged colonists to build a “city upon a hill”—a community where the rich help the poor, bound by love and mutual care, because “we must be knit together in this work as one man.” This wasn’t just talk; it drew from biblical teachings like the Good Samaritan or Jesus’ command to love your neighbor as yourself.

This Christian tradition continued in the 19th century. Even though America went through a civil war, charitable giving didn’t stop, it actually exploded. America’s great missionary movement sent Christian missionaries to over 200 countries around the world. Americans supporting missions helped build schools, hospitals and libraries. Ministers founded global charities, like the YMCA (1844) for youth support or the Salvation Army (1865) for poverty relief, driven by the belief that every person is made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), deserving dignity and compassion. Even John Harvard’s 1638 donation of his library and estate to found Harvard University was a Puritan act of faith-based giving. Post-Civil War, industrial titans like Andrew Carnegie echoed this in his “Gospel of Wealth,” arguing that wealth should benefit society—a secular twist on Christian stewardship.

Today, religion still drives 70% of US giving, mostly from individuals averaging over $1,000 each year. It’s why Americans volunteer at high rates and support causes from civil rights to global aid. This tradition fosters a vibrant civil society, boosting the economy through jobs in nonprofits and sparking innovations like medical breakthroughs funded by foundations.

China’s Philanthropy: A Dismal Rate Without the Religious Spark

In China, philanthropy tells a different story—one marked by absence. Historically, charity existed through Confucian ideas of benevolence or Buddhist almsgiving, but organized religious philanthropy was suppressed after the 1949 Communist Revolution, which nationalized assets and viewed religion as an “opiate of the masses.” Christianity, introduced in the 7th century but growing significantly in the 19th via missionaries, never took deep root; today, Christians are a minority (about 5-10% of the population), and the government tightly controls religious groups, limiting their charitable roles.

The result? A dismal philanthropic rate, with 2024 seeing a drop to historic lows amid economic woes and scandals eroding trust in charities. Unlike the US, where individuals fuel 81% of donations, China’s is corporate-heavy (over 75%), with average personal gifts around 60 yuan (about $8)—a fraction of American levels. Giving often feels coerced, like for Communist Party members, rather than voluntary. Without a strong religious motivator, especially Christianity’s emphasis on personal sacrifice, philanthropy remains state-aligned, focusing on short-term aid like disaster relief rather than independent, systemic change.

This gap means China’s society leans more on government for welfare, potentially stifling innovation and community bonds. Low trust—only 23% of organizations feel trusted—further hampers growth.

Contrasting Worlds: Views on Humanity at the Core

The differences described above aren’t just economic; they reflect clashing civilizations and how they value people. In the US, the Christian worldview sees every human as created in God’s image—imbued with inherent dignity, worth, and rights. This fuels philanthropy as a moral duty: if your neighbor is God’s image-bearer, helping them is like serving God. It’s why individual giving thrives—people feel personally called to act, building a society of compassion and equality.

China’s officially atheistic society, shaped by Marxism, lacks this transcendent view. Humans are seen through a materialist lens: products of evolution, valued by utility to the state or society, without divine spark. This can erode personal dignity, making collective goals trump individual worth—and philanthropy more top-down, less heartfelt. Without the “positive narrative” of inherent human value, giving becomes pragmatic or obligatory, not a soul-deep impulse.

In essence, America’s Christian-rooted philanthropy celebrates human potential and interconnectedness, driving a dynamic, empathetic economy. China’s approach, missing that element, highlights a more utilitarian view, where humanity’s “element” of sacred worth is absent. Understanding this helps us appreciate how beliefs shape not just giving, but the soul of a society.Imagine a world where everyday people, inspired by their beliefs, band together to feed the hungry, educate the young, and heal the sick—not because the government mandates it, but out of a deep sense of shared human worth. This is the essence of philanthropy: voluntary giving of time, money, or resources to improve society.

I realize that most of you already know this and probably even take it for granted. However, given all the propaganda these days on social media, glorifying China and communism, it’s good take a look at this often neglected facet of life in free countries like the United States. Sadly, many young people in America aren’t familiar with this aspect of American exceptionalism.

Americans donated a staggering $592.5 billion in 2024 alone, fueling everything from hospitals and schools to disaster relief and arts programs. This isn’t just pocket change; it supports an entire nonprofit sector that employs about 10% of the workforce and contributes roughly 5-6% to the economy, bridging gaps where government and businesses fall short. Without it, we’d see a lot more poverty, less innovation, and weaker communities—think fewer scholarships for kids, shuttered food banks, or stalled medical research.

Now contrast that with China, the world’s second-largest economy. It should be trailing the United States as a close second, one might assume. However, that’s not the case. Philanthropy is far smaller, totaling around $17-20 billion annually, or just 0.1-0.16% of GDP. It’s like a trickle compared to America’s flood. This limited giving means fewer independent charities tackling issues like rural poverty or environmental crises, putting more pressure on the state to handle social needs. Economically, it misses out on the job creation and innovation that nonprofits spark in the US.

But why such a difference?

It boils down to history, culture, and fundamentally different ways of seeing fellow humans—rooted in America’s Christian heritage versus China’s atheistic framework.

America’s Philanthropic Roots: A Christian Legacy from the Start

Philanthropy in America isn’t a modern invention; it’s woven into the nation’s fabric, dating back to its founding in the 1600s. Early settlers, many fleeing religious persecution in Europe, brought a strong Christian ethos that emphasized charity as a divine calling. Take John Winthrop, a Puritan leader on the ship Arbella in 1630. In his famous sermon “A Model of Christian Charity,” he urged colonists to build a “city upon a hill”—a community where the rich help the poor, bound by love and mutual care, because “we must be knit together in this work as one man.” This wasn’t just talk; it drew from biblical teachings like the Good Samaritan or Jesus’ command to love your neighbor as yourself.

This Christian tradition continued in the 19th century. Even though America went through a civil war, charitable giving didn’t stop, it actually exploded. America’s great missonary movement sent Christian missionaries to over 200 countries around the world. Americans supporting missions helped build schools, hospitals and libraries. Ministers founded global charities, like the YMCA (1844) for youth support or the Salvation Army (1865) for poverty relief, driven by the belief that every person is made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), deserving dignity and compassion. Even John Harvard’s 1638 donation of his library and estate to found Harvard University was a Puritan act of faith-based giving. Post-Civil War, industrial titans like Andrew Carnegie echoed this in his “Gospel of Wealth,” arguing that wealth should benefit society—a secular twist on Christian stewardship.

Today, religion still drives 70% of US giving, mostly from individuals averaging over $1,000 each year. It’s why Americans volunteer at high rates and support causes from civil rights to global aid. This tradition fosters a vibrant civil society, boosting the economy through jobs in nonprofits and sparking innovations like medical breakthroughs funded by foundations.

China’s Philanthropy: A Dismal Rate Without the Religious Spark

In China, philanthropy tells a different story—one marked by absence. Historically, charity existed through Confucian ideas of benevolence or Buddhist almsgiving, but organized religious philanthropy was suppressed after the 1949 Communist Revolution, which nationalized assets and viewed religion as an “opiate of the masses.” Christianity, introduced in the 7th century but growing significantly in the 19th via missionaries, never took deep root; today, Christians are a minority (about 5-10% of the population), and the government tightly controls religious groups, limiting their charitable roles.

The result? A dismal philanthropic rate, with 2024 seeing a drop to historic lows amid economic woes and scandals eroding trust in charities. Unlike the US, where individuals fuel 81% of donations, China’s is corporate-heavy (over 75%), with average personal gifts around 60 yuan (about $8)—a fraction of American levels. Giving often feels coerced, like for Communist Party members, rather than voluntary. Without a strong religious motivator, especially Christianity’s emphasis on personal sacrifice, philanthropy remains state-aligned, focusing on short-term aid like disaster relief rather than independent, systemic change.

This gap means China’s society leans more on government for welfare, potentially stifling innovation and community bonds. Low trust—only 23% of organizations feel trusted—further hampers growth.

Contrasting Worlds: Views on Humanity at the Core

The differences described above aren’t just economic; they reflect clashing civilizations and how they value people. In the US, the Christian worldview sees every human as created in God’s image—imbued with inherent dignity, worth, and rights. This fuels philanthropy as a moral duty: if your neighbor is God’s image-bearer, helping them is like serving God. It’s why individual giving thrives—people feel personally called to act, building a society of compassion and equality.

China’s officially atheistic society, shaped by Marxism, lacks this transcendent view. Humans are seen through a materialist lens: products of evolution, valued by utility to the state or society, without divine spark. This can erode personal dignity, making collective goals trump individual worth—and philanthropy more top-down, less heartfelt. Without the “positive narrative” of inherent human value, giving becomes pragmatic or obligatory, not a soul-deep impulse.

In essence, America’s Christian-rooted philanthropy celebrates human potential and interconnectedness, driving a dynamic, empathetic economy. China’s approach, missing that element, highlights a more utilitarian view, where humanity’s “element” of sacred worth is absent. Understanding this helps us appreciate how beliefs shape not just giving, but the soul of a society.

The Philanthropy Phenomenon: A Tale of Two Nations and Their Views on Humanity© 2025 byGeorge Bakalovis licensed underCC BY-NC-ND 4.0