Philanthropy actually got its start during the Roman Empire.  It became a part of the feudal system, and people who were better off financially were expected to contribute to the lives of those less fortunate than themselves.  At least this way no one could say that
“someone really should do something about that” but not actually do anything.  Most people who had the means to help wanted to do something to help those less fortunate than themselves, but they did not really know how to accomplish this.  It was not until the Victorian era that charity organizations were developed to streamline and help make sure that needs were actually being met.  Most charity organizations naturally were born from the church itself.  Before long, however, charity works soon fell to the state to make sure that its people were being benefitted in the best way possible.   Which leads us to the welfare system that is in place today, and does not necessarily benefit the ones who truly need it.