This article gives a brief account of the historical development of the systematic academic study of the field of philanthropy from the point of view of one of the original investigators in the field. It attempts to identify the institutional factors (in the field of philanthropy, within the universities, and among funding agencies) that have determined the current nature of research on philanthropy. Finally, it points out some of the leading problems in the further development of philanthropy as a research field, especially those of cooperative relations between researchers and philanthropic practitioners.