<![CDATA[Merdi Desa in Rogodadi, Buayan, Kebumen is an annual village tradition that connects religious gratitude, mutual assistance, cultural performance, local economic activity, and care for a shared water source. This study examines how Islamic philanthropic values are embedded in the tradition and how they are reproduced through community participation. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, the study involved 20 participants drawn purposively from key stakeholder groups. Fieldwork at Sendang Pelus combined participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, documentation, and a focus group discussion during a three-month engagement that included direct observation of the 3-6 September 2025 ritual cycle. Data were interpreted thematically with source and method triangulation, member checking, and researcher reflexivity. The findings identify three interconnected dimensions: spiritual gratitude, socio-economic solidarity, and ecological-cultural stewardship. Bersih Luweng mobilizes collective care for the water source; voluntary contributions, buffalo-meat distribution, and Tenongan circulate resources; while Lenggeran and Dondangan sustain cultural participation and intergenerational learning. The article proposes 'embedded village philanthropy' to explain how Islamic ethics of giving, reciprocity, redistribution, and care can operate through a recurring local institution rather than only through formal charitable organizations.]]>
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