Hmm. So this isn’t so good. Rhode Island has been ranked the least charitable state in the country according to a recent study by WalletHub.
Just how altruistic are Americans? 95.4 percent of households donate to charities, each contributing an annual average of $2,974. According to the National Philanthropic Trust, in 2014 alone, Americans gave more than $338 billion, 72 percent of which came directly from individuals.
Of course “charitable” behavior isn’t limited to donating money to the needy. Giving one’s time is a form of generosity as well — a contribution made by nearly 63 million people who volunteered with an organization at least once between September 2013 and September 2014. But whether to pitch in money, time or both — and the magnitude of its impact — largely depends on a donor’s particular circumstances, according to WalletHub’s Charity Calculator.
The study analyzed a total of eight key metrics, among which are volunteer rate, the percentage of the population who donated time and money, and the median contribution to charity.
Rhode Island ranked dead last.
Here are the 5 most charitable.
- Utah
- Maryland
- Idaho
- Oregon
- South Dakota
And the 5 least charitable
46. Kentucky
47. Arizona
48. California
49. Louisiana
50. Rhode Island
