Historians generally refer to the early decades of the 20th century as the Golden Age of Philanthropy. It was the era of the great industrialist—men like Carnegie, Mellon, Rockefeller and Ford—who amassed great fortunes, then established the grand legacy of American philanthropy through the formation of the private foundation as their chosen vehicle for expressing their charitable intent. Their desire to make a difference and the wealth that spawned their philanthropic mission created a legacy that perpetuates to this day: Our nation remains by far the most generous nation on Earth.