Alwaleed Philanthropies goes back more than forty years, when Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal began his career as an investor and entrepreneur in Riyadh. His Highness's passion for charity stems from his deep belief in the importance of giving and participation as human duties which have solid roots in Islam as well as Arab traditions. He has always been devoted to paying Zakah in its true sense, an obligation in Islam which is centered on giving to others. As his business grew, his charity grew with it, and Zakah became an essential part of his life.

Prince Alwaleed's strategy for aid is structured around flexibility and a holistic outlook. It goes beyond the donation of food, material, or human aid to one focusing on developmental, cultural, educational, and health investments via partners and community institutions that are active developing individuals and society in general, and women and youth in particular. This strategy has paved the opportunity to diversify support and reach several charitable and humanitarian institutions and associations.

Over the years, Prince Alwaleed's business Kingdom Holding Company expanded, and his humanitarian efforts expanded with it. During the 1990s, Prince Alwaleed became a leading global investor and a billionaire who yielded investment returns around the world. As his business profits continued to rise, he devoted himself to giving back to the community and others, especially to those in dire need of basic necessities of living and humanitarian assistance.

Prince Alwaleed gives personal attention to charity, making sure donations arrive to their beneficiaries and positively impact their lives, achieving the desired objective.

To formalize the Prince's charitable work, and in alignment with the values of transparency, effective influence, and management with precision and firmness, The Kingdom Foundation for strategic initiatives was established in 2000.

In 2010, as charitable activities expanded, the Foundation's license was issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and was later renamed to Alwaleed Bin Talal Charity Foundation, which contributed to a wide range of private humanitarian projects and initiatives.

During four decades of continuous charity work, Alwaleed's institutions have been radically developed and the scope of work has changed over the years to adapt to changing circumstances and times.

As a result, the work of Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation and its three charity institutions has been consolidated under one name: Alwaleed Philanthropies, guided by one vision: contributing to a world of tolerance, acceptance, equality, and opportunity for all.

Alwaleed Philanthropies consists of three philanthropic organizations: Alwaleed Philanthropies "Global", focusing on philanthropic and humanitarian projects around the world, Alwaleed Philanthropies Lebanon, which is focused on the social and community needs of Lebanon, and Alwaleed Philanthropies Saudi Arabia, which focuses on the needs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.