Page 60 - Social Enterprise A New Business Paradigm for Thailand

England. His philanthropic work during the 1850s and 1860s gained widespread attention,
especially through the creation of the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, he

contributed to the founding of libraries, music schools, and hospitals throughout the United
States, and is widely regarded as the father of modern American philanthropy.

By the late 19th century, the introduction of estate tax laws in several U.S. states expanded the
pool of funding available to civil society. This development led to the establishment of many
foundations, a topic explored further in Chapter 3. In 1905, Charles Sumner Ward, then secretary
of the YMCA in the United States, pioneered a new model of public fundraising. His structured,
time-bound campaigns targeted prominent business leaders and replaced the previously
uncoordinated, year-round approach to giving. This innovation marked a turning point in the

formalization of philanthropic practice (ArchiveGrid, 2011), as reflected in Figures 2.1 and 2.2.

In the decades that followed, major philanthropists such as Andrew Carnegie (in 1968) and John
D. Rockefeller (in 1970) helped redefine the landscape of charitable giving. Their foundations
championed strategic, long-term approaches with clearly defined goals and a strong emphasis on
social impact. This shift contributed to a broader reorientation of philanthropy, away from purely
religious motivations and toward more outcome-driven contributions that sought to address
public needs in lasting and measurable ways.

Foundations such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation directed their efforts
toward improving education, public health, social welfare, and the arts. Their aim was not only to

assist the disadvantaged but to contribute to a more just and culturally enriched society. Some
foundations also began expanding internationally, particularly in developing countries, by funding
research in health, technology, culture, gender equity, and human rights. The Rockefeller
Foundation, founded in 1913, played a key role in reforming medical education in Thailand in
1923. The Wellcome Trust, established in the United Kingdom in 1936 and now the world’s third-
largest foundation, has supported global health research and efforts to combat serious diseases.
These efforts reflect the ongoing evolution of philanthropy into a tool for systemic and

international impact. Figures 2.1 and 2.2 illustrate the key stages of this evolution.

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