Philanthropy has been a cornerstone of the American experiment since its inception. In the 1830s, Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville observed the young United States and noted the nation’s success was deeply rooted in voluntary associations and charitable giving.
To safeguard democracy, Americans needed to engage actively and voluntarily as individuals and through organizations. Early Americans and founding fathers embraced the opportunity to shape civic life by taking on the responsibility of nurturing the common good.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of our great nation, the Roundtable recently released the Civics Playbook to connect foundation and individual donors with high-impact organizations dedicated to revitalizing civics education across the country. By investing in curriculum, educators and experimental learning, philanthropists can transform civic engagement, advancing the traditional American values of liberty, opportunity and personal responsibility.
This Presidents Day, we reflect on the philanthropic legacies of Presidents George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and draw inspiration from their enduring commitment to American values and the common good.
President George Washington
“Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distresses of every one, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse; remembering always the estimation of the widow’s mite, but, that it is not every one who asketh that deserveth charity; all, however, are worthy of the inquiry, or the deserving may suffer.” – George Washington, “The writings of George Washington,” 1835
Perhaps the most well-known president in United States history, Washington set the tone for American culture, civic leadership and philanthropic giving. Driven by a deep sense of morality, Washington used his wealth to establish himself as one of the greatest philanthropists of his day.
A founding father and major general of the Continental Army, Washington’s early American political philosophy emphasized national freedom and individual liberties. These values extended to his philanthropic efforts, where he supported educational institutions and orphanages to promote individual growth and opportunity.
Having fought first-hand in the American Revolution, Washington sought to form a sovereign nation founded on individual freedom. As such, he personally gave frequent charitable donations to churches, charities and debtor prisons. Unable to have children of their own, Washington and his wife Martha also donated to several orphanages, including the Alexandria Academy located a few miles from their Mount Vernon home in Virginia.
Often insecure regarding his lack of formal education, Washington determined to help others attain what he never could. To that end, he funded colleges and individuals, helping to ensure that future leaders received a proper and well-deserved education.
Washington’s philanthropy reflected his overarching political views and his desire to lead by example, fostering a sense of civic responsibility and moral integrity in the young nation.
President John Adams
“Public virtue cannot exist in a Nation without private, and public virtue is the only Foundation of Republics.” – John Adams, “Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law,” 1756
The second president of the United States and a renowned political philosopher, Adams authored numerous books and dissertations fundamental to American culture and political thought. In his early works, Adams explored the foundations of government, the relationship between law and liberty and the moral character necessary for a republic to thrive.
Like Tocqueville, Adams understood the republic’s success and stability depended on individuals’ moral integrity and the active participation of virtuous citizens. In his letters to the Massachusetts Militia in 1798, Adams defined private virtue as self-governance according to moral law and public virtue as the willingness to sacrifice personal desires for the community’s greater good.
He specifically highlighted charity and acts of generosity as key moral virtues. For Adams, charity was not just about financial giving but a moral duty to help others and contribute to the common good, reflecting the values of mutual responsibility key to sustaining a republic.
Though Adams may not have been a philanthropist in the modern sense, his emphasis on virtue, moral duty and the common good ties directly to the broader concept of charity and philanthropy. In his view, charity wasn’t just about giving money. It was a moral imperative to contribute to the well-being of others, a key aspect of civic virtue that held a republic together. Thus, Adams’s political philosophy supported philanthropy as a civic virtue essential to the preservation of American values and the health of the new nation.
President Thomas Jefferson
“I deem it the duty of every man to devote a certain portion of his income for charitable purposes; and that it is his further duty to see it so applied and to do the most good for which it is capable.” – Thomas Jefferson, “Letter to William Rogers and William Staughton,” 1806
Jefferson, perhaps more well-known for being an outspoken founding father than for his time in the Oval Office, symbolizes the fight for individual rights and freedom. Jefferson’s impact on the United States cannot be overstated. We have his quill to thank for the Declaration of Independence and its introduction of fundamental civic ideals such as natural rights, representation and limited government. A strong advocate for a written “Bill of Rights” addition to the new Constitution, Jefferson sought to protect, above all else, personal liberties such as freedom of religion and freedom of the press.
Apart from his clear civic engagement and contribution to America’s founding principles, Jefferson was frequently involved in charitable giving, especially in areas of education and the development of public institutions. Because Jefferson desired to create a society of educated, informed citizens aligned with his vision of liberty and democratic ideals, he enthusiastically contributed to advancing education.
Other charitable areas of interest for Jefferson included disaster and fire relief, missions, hospitals and churches. During his first two years in office, it is estimated he donated $2,563.80 to charitable causes, a sum equal to approximately $63,712.45 today!
Jefferson’s charitable giving focused on the poor and suffering, as well as causes and institutions he believed in, such as civics education. His philanthropic beliefs informed his political ideology by demonstrating his belief in civic responsibility, social love and the importance of individual freedoms.
For questions about the Civics Playbook or the Roundtable’s other work related to civics education, please contact Philanthropy Roundtable Portfolio Director Clarice Smith.
