Philanthropist: An adult with an ethically earned net annual income of at least $1 million, who dedicates a minimum of 10% of that income to causes beyond their immediate family.
Philicorn: A philanthropist who has made a single donation of at least one billion dollars to a single cause. In the Givingtide movement, those who donate one billion dollars to the Universal Cause are honored as Givingtide Philicorns.
Philaxima: A distinguished member of the global top 1% in generosity—philanthropists, nations, corporations, or foundations who set world-leading benchmarks for giving relative to their capacity.
Philanthroteen: A teenager with an ethically earned net annual income of at least $100,000, who dedicates a minimum of 10% of that income to causes beyond their immediate family.
Philanthrokid: A child with an ethically earned net annual income of at least $1,000, who dedicates a minimum of 10% of that income to causes beyond their immediate family.
Philanthrocrat: the chief executive officer of a foundation or non-profit organization with an annual philanthropic budget (excluding running costs) of at least $1 million.
Philanthrolist: A professional who designs, manages, or oversees philanthropic grants, corporate social investments, or sustainability programs for any nations, institutions or businesses.
Philadvocate: The dedicated grassroots supporters and mobilizers—Givingtide’s “foot soldiers.” Philadvocates actively promote, organize, and engage communities in support of the Givingtide mission, driving awareness and participation from the ground up through awareness campaigns, outreach efforts, and volunteerism.
Philistar: A celebrity or public influencer recognized by Givingtide with a demonstrable social or media reach of at least one billion people. Philistars leverage their platforms to elevate Givingtide’s impact and extend its message to vast global audiences.
Philivoice: A distinguished individual officially appointed by Givingtide to serve as an authoritative national or global voice for the movement. Philivoices represent Givingtide’s values and advocacy in their country, with a minimum of three appointed per nation. Their role is to articulate, champion, and amplify the Givingtide mission at high levels of influence and public visibility.
The term “Ethically earned” means earned through lawful, ethical, and environmentally responsible activities that respect human rights and dignity.
Net annual income” refers to self-reported total funds available after taxes and compulsory deductions.
You can sign up as a GivingTide Philanthropist, Philanthroteen, or Philanthrokid or by contributing 10% to the Universal Cause of the baseline amount for your category to the focal cause.
Honorary Institution Status
Although Givingtide is principally aligned with institutions—nations, corporations, foundations, and organizations dedicated to systemic change—we recognize that there are extraordinary individuals whose personal commitment or resources rise to an institutional level. Givingtide celebrates these inspiring givers. Accordingly, Givingtide grants Chartered Status to select individuals who meet the rigorous Titular Standard—committing a minimum of 10% of their net income— and whose lives exemplify excellence in ethics, equity, and empathy. These changemakers are distinguished as Honorary Institutions within the Givingtide movement.
Any individual who qualifies as a Philanthropist, Philanthroteen, or Philanthrokid as defined by Givingtide may, by application and review, be chartered as an Honorary Institution and join the Tide in their own right—becoming a Chartered Philanthropist, Chartered Philanthroteen, or Chartered Philanthrokid.
Upon approval, individuals granted Chartered Status are entitled to sign the Tide in their own right and will be listed separately from institutional members in public materials, unless they specifically request anonymity. They will receive a formal charter and the designation “Honorary Institution” for use in communications, with rights of participation in governance and public representation defined in their charter.
This honorary recognition not only honors their exceptional generosity but also amplifies their influence, inspiring broader participation in Givingtide’s mission of shared global prosperity.
For clarity, the terms “Chartered Status,” “Honorary Institution,” “Chartered Philanthropist,” “Chartered Philanthroteen,” and “Chartered Philanthrokid” are distinct but related: Chartered Status is the formal signatory category; Honorary Institution is the recognition conferred; and the three Chartered titles identify the individuals who are signing the Tide.
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