Entrepreneurial philanthropy plays a vital role in addressing societal challenges, yet it is often criticized as self-serving. Existing research has largely focused on charitable giving following wealth accumulation, neglecting early-stage philanthropy and contributions from entrepreneurs with limited resources. Additionally, the influence of religion on entrepreneurial giving remains under explored. This study uses German personal income tax data (2010–2018) to examine how entrepreneurship and religion shape charitable giving. The findings reveal that resource uncertainty reduces philanthropic contributions by entrepreneurs compared to wage earners. However, religion positively influences entrepreneurial giving, encouraging contributions beyond religious causes to broader social do-mains. This religious “spillover effect” demonstrates that religious entrepreneurs exhibit higher levels of altruistic giving than their non-religious counterparts. Our research challenges the view of entrepreneurial philanthropy as primarily self-serving, showing that entrepreneurs engage in altruistic giving despite financial constraints. It also advances the theological turn in entrepreneurship by demonstrating how religion moderates the relationship between income variability and philanthropy, suggesting an imprinting effect of religious values. By exploring the intersection of entrepreneurship, religion, and philanthropy, this study provides a more nuanced understanding of the ethical and altruistic dimensions of entrepreneurial giving.
