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Following the United-States, where philanthropy was shaped by billionaires as a dream financial product and an act of moral satisfaction, the French middle classes increasingly donate to associations of general interest. Private sponsorship through popular philanthropy is a marketing success, which can be described as “social marketing”. But, parallel to the development of the associative movement, we have witnessed, since the 90s, the emergence of new Samaritans, real enlightened despots: the foundations. Next to the charitable donors of civil society, the philanthropic donor is positioned between the policies of the Welfare State and the joint bodies in charge of the general interest. Their power allows them to redefine this general interest to their advantage. The boom of philanthropy is thus linked to a certain incapacity of the Welfare State, the great central redistributor, to extend its coverage to all citizens, and especially to distant causes. A bright future is promised to philanthropy.