Аннотация
The article analyzes the historical evolution of philanthropy in Kazakh society in the 19th – early 20th centuries within the broader socio-economic and cultural-political context of the modernization of the Steppe region. It traces the origins of philanthropy to traditional institutions of mutual aid and collective solidarity and examines its key dimensions – religious, educational, cultural, and socio-political.Special attention is given to bai entrepreneurs, who functioned not only as economic actors but also as agents of modernization and social leadership. Their philanthropic activities fostered the emergence of a national intelligentsia, the development of educational infrastructure, the strengthening of civic initiatives, and the growth of public self-awareness under Russian imperial rule.Based on extensive archival and published sources, the article demonstrates the gradual transformation of philanthropy from customary communal support practices into more organized and institutionalized forms of charitable engagement. Over time, philanthropy assumed a distinctly educational and socio-political character, ranging from the construction of mosques and madrasas to the establishment of secular schools, libraries, and cultural centers, the financing of periodicals, and support for the “Alash” national movement, ultimately serving as a significant factor in social consolidation.