Community Philanthropy has been in existence for ages. Different contexts have practiced the idea differently and produced varied results due to varied factors such as culture, politics and religious beliefs. Malawi is no exception. Like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, community philanthropy in Malawi is equally historical and is a significant national practice which is practiced across the country by all tribes as a way of supporting local social development initiatives. Using social movement and philanthropic collaboration theories to inform the design and methodology, the study utilized 300 participants in nine districts in Malawi. Of the sample, 160 were key informants. There were 117 participants engaged in focus group interviews while 23 shared their life stories. A desk review was conducted to enrich other forms of data. The findings indicate that community philanthropy is a thriving form of community giving although the naming varies with place and context. Strong evidence has emerged that women give more than men. Religious and cultural beliefs drive the desire to give and, this is largely based on humanism based on the ‘ubunthu’ philosophy. However, challenges abound. Lack of government support to local initiatives was cited as major. The study recommends an amplification of the idea – renewed in the context of the current shift in culture and socio-political landscape.