[WikiEN-l] vocabulary

[Fred Bauder]

Amazingly we use the word "angel" for such people, see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_investor

Fred

> Hello,
>
> Not directly about Wikipedia, sorry :-)
>
> I have a vocabulary question... and Wikipedia was not able to help me !!!
>
> In French, we have a term "mécénat" which refers to the act for a person
> or a company to financially support a creator.
>
> http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mécénat
>
> This word exist in other languages, but there is apparently no english
> article. In our definition, Foundation (such as the Ford or the Gates
> Foundation) are mécènes, but a commercial company can also be directly a
> mécène.
>
> We also use the term "sponsor" (or parrainage), which is a direct
> translation of the english term sponsor.
>
>
> The definition of a "mécène" is not so different from the definition of
> a sponsor, though the French article hints that the "mecène" does that
> for philanthropic reasons, whilst the sponsor does that for commercial
> reasons. Except that within the articles, in both cases, it notices that
> both mécène and sponsors get financial benefits (deductibility etc...)
> and that both mécène and sponsors get benefits in terms of image.
> So, I guess it is sometimes a bit tricky to know when a gift is a
> "mécenat" and when it is "sponsoring". But still, we try to make the
> differenciation. For WMF, the recent big donations would be "mécénat",
> whilst those giving money for Wikimania (with public recognition, thank
> yous, logo display etc...) are "sponsors".
>
>
> My question (yes, there is a question): do you really have no term to
> describe "mécénat" as the lack of Wikipedia article seem to suggest ?
> If there is no term, would "philanthropic activity" fit both the concept
> for an organisation OR a unique person ?
>
>
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