benefactor

noun

1. a person who confers a benefit; kindly helper.
2. a person who makes a bequest or endowment, as to an institution.

noun

1. a person who supports or helps a person, institution, etc, esp by giving money; patron

n.

mid-15c., from Late Latin benefactor, from Latin phrase bene facere, from bene “well” (see bene-) + facere “to do” (see factitious). Translated in Old English as wel-doend.