Utah, Minnesota and Maryland are the most charitable states in the U.S., while Louisiana, New Mexico and Arizona are the least charitable, according to WalletHub’s annual study that examines the generosity habits of Americans.
Utah finished No. 1 in the study, followed by Minnesota, Maryland, Oregon and Ohio at No. 5. The bottom five on the list were Rhode Island (46th), Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arizona (50th).
The WalletHub study is based on 19 key indicators in two broad categories: volunteering/service and charitable giving.
WalletHub noted that the U.S. ranked as the world’s most generous country over the past decade according to the World Giving Index.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic may have disrupted some volunteer opportunities in 2020, it hasn’t stopped people from giving,” a WalletHub analysis of the data said. “In fact, donor grantmaking was up 16% in the first four months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Plus, the COVID-19 stimulus will allow Americans to take an above-the-line tax deduction of $300 per person for charitable donations in 2020.”
Utah and Minnesota tied for No. 1 for the state with the highest volunteer rate, followed by Oregon, Iowa and Alaska.
Four states (Utah, Arkansas, Georgia and Wyoming) tied for No. 1 for the state with the highest percentage of donated income. Alabama was No 5.
Utah also finished No. 1 on the list of states with the highest percentage of people who donate their time, followed by Minnesota, New Hampshire, Montana, and Hawaii and Nebraska (tied for 5th).
The full WalletHub list of most charitable states is as follows: 1. Utah; 2. Minnesota; 3. Maryland; 4. Oregon; 5. Ohio; 6. Pennsylvania; 7. Virginia; 8. North Dakota; 9. Maine; 10. Colorado; 11. Alaska; 12. Georgia; 13. Wyoming; 14. Washington; 15. New Hampshire; 16. Arkansas; 17. North Carolina; 18. Wisconsin; 19. New York; 20. Illinois; 21. Massachusetts; 22. Nebraska; 23. Connecticut; 24. Missouri; 25. Idaho; 26. Indiana; 27. New Jersey; 28. Florida; 29. Delaware; 30. South Dakota; 31. Oklahoma; 32. Kentucky; 33. Montana; 34. Kansas; 35. Michigan; 36. Vermont; 37. Texas; 38. Tennessee; 39. South Carolina; 40. Alabama; 41. Iowa; 42. Hawaii; 43. California; 44. West Virginia; 45. Nevada; 46. Rhode Island; 47. Mississippi; 48. Louisiana; 49. New Mexico; 50. Arizona.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Thitaree Sarmkasat
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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