How Charitable is Your State?

By Aaron Earls

Once again, Utah has been named the most charitable state.

Wallet Hub, a financial information site, analyzed data from the World Giving Index to identify the most (and least) giving states in the country.

While the U.S. slipped in the global rankings—down to fifth in 2017 from second in 2016—Utah maintained the top spot among U.S. states.

The Mormon-heavy Western state has the highest volunteer rate and highest percentage of population who donated time. It is also tied for the highest percentage of donated income, and the highest percentage of the population who donate money.

Wallet Hub combined 14 indicators of charitable behavior into two main categories—charitable giving and volunteering and service. Utah ranked first in giving and seventh in service.

South Dakota was tops for volunteering and service, but 37^th in charitable giving.

On the other end of the spectrum from Utah is Hawaii, rated as the least charitable state. It was 48^th in volunteering and service and 44^th in charitable giving.

Rhode Island (49^th overall) finished last in volunteering and service, while Arizona (46^th overall) was at the bottom for charitable giving.

The full ranking of the most charitable states in America:

Utah
Maryland
Minnesota
Wyoming
Wisconsin
Washington
Virginia
South Dakota
Georgia
Oklahoma
Connecticut
Kansas
New Hampshire
Oregon
New York
Ohio
North Dakota
Missouri
South Carolina
Nebraska
Tennessee
Delaware
Idaho
Pennsylvania
Arkansas
Colorado
Maine
North Carolina
Illinois
Alabama
New Jersey
Iowa
Vermont
Alaska
Massachusetts
West Virginia
Mississippi
Indiana
Michigan
New Mexico
Kentucky
Montana
California
Florida
Texas
Arizona
Louisiana
Nevada
Rhode Island
Hawaii

Factors like region of the country, statewide wealth, and religious devotion do not seem to be good predictors of a state’s placement on the list.

While Utah tops the list as a Western state, Nevada (48^th) is close to the bottom. Virginia (7^th) and Georgia (9^th) rank as top 10 Southern states, but Texas (45^th) and Louisiana (47^th) fall in the bottom 10.

Oklahoma is 40^th in terms of state wealth, but the 10^th most charitable. As the most charitable state, Utah ranks as the 21^st wealthiest. New Jersey is the richest state, but the 31^st most charitable. The least charitable state, Hawaii, is the 11^th wealthiest.

Gallup found Mississippi to be the most religious state, but Mississippi is only the 37^th most charitable. The least religious state, Vermont, finds itself a few spots higher on the charitable list—33^rd.

Utah, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Georgia are the only states in the top 10 of the most charitable and most religious states.

AARON EARLS (@WardrobeDoor) is online editor of Facts & Trends.