Nation's Most Charitable States

As children, we are all taught that it’s better to give than to receive. Of course, what we do with this teaching and how true we take it to be varies from person to person.   

It would seem, however, that most people in the United States take this teaching to heart since America consistently ranks as the second most giving country in the world.

With that said, though, some states are more giving than others.

The District of Columbia

As of 2017, the most giving state in the nation is also our country’s capitol, Washington, D.C. The state has more non-profits than any other, as well as more volunteers giving more time than anywhere else in the nation. On average, a Washington, D.C. resident will donate more than $1,400 per year to reputable charities.

Wyoming

Wyoming is yet another very charitable state. Like Washington, D.C., it has a large number of non-profit organizations. Plus, the average Wyoming resident gives a little under $1,000 to charity each year.

Utah

Apparently, your state’s name doesn’t have to start with a “W” to be considered super-charitable, but it does need to start with a letter near the end of the alphabet. We say that in jest because Utah is also one of the nation’s most generous states, with over 43% of residents regularly volunteering. On top of that metric, the average Utahan will donate $1,200 to charity each year.

Other States

These three are, of course, not the only states where charitable giving is high. Other very giving states include:

l  Minnesota

l  Nebraska

l  South Dakota

l  Oregon

l  Virginia

l  Connecticut

l  Washington

Whether you happen to be from one of these states or not, giving is still a smart thing to do, especially since you can deduct many charitable donations from your taxes. No matter where you live, you can learn more about this opportunity to give and save at the same time by contacting a qualified tax professional.