With Americans donating over $617 billion to charity per year, the personal-finance company WalletHub recently released its report on the Most Charitable States, along with expert commentary, to highlight where people spend the most time and money helping others.
The latest World Giving Index shows that the United States ranks 47th among 105 countries in terms of the share of income donated in 2025, with nearly 64% of the funds coming directly from individuals, according to the Giving USA.
Americans do more than just reach in their pockets to help others, though. They also contribute their time — and plenty of it. Nearly 76 million people volunteer in the U.S., serving a combined total of 5 billion hours per year, the equivalent of more than $167 billion in contributions.
In the spirit of inspiring altruism, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 17 key indicators of charitable behavior to identify the most charitable areas of the country. The data set ranges from the volunteer rate to the share of income donated to the number of food banks per capita. California ranked at number 38 in the study.
Most Charitable States
Utah came in at the top of the list, ranked as the most charitable state. Wyoming was at number two, followed by Minnesota, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Colorado, Pennsylvania, North Dakota and Maine rounding out the top 10.
Rated 11 through 20 were Oregon at number 11, followed by Alaska, Montana, Iowa, Ohio, Connecticut, Idaho, Georgia, Illinois and New Hampshire at number 20.
Least Charitable States
In the bottom five in the survey were Alabama at number 46, followed by Mississippi, Rhode Island, Nevada and, the least charitable state according to the survey, New Mexico at number 50.
Key Stats
The charities with the highest ratings from WalletHub include the Optica, Aga Khan Foundation, and Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust.
Delaware has the most charities per capita, which is 2.9 times more than in Utah, the state with the fewest.
Utah has the highest volunteer rate, which is 2.5 times higher than in Rhode Island, the state with the lowest.
Utah has the most volunteer hours per capita, which is 4.6 times more than in Mississippi, the state with the fewest.
“The share of the population giving and the percentage of their individual income that they’re willing to use to help others are big factors in showing how charitable people are. In addition, many people can’t afford to give much money, especially due to the influence of inflation, but they generously donate their time, which is just as important,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst. “Utah is the most charitable state, boasting the highest volunteer rate at roughly 47% and the most volunteer hours per capita at over 45 hours. On top of volunteering for organizations, Utahans are also happy to do favors for their neighbors, with over 68% of the population reporting that they helped out with tasks like house sitting, watching children or lending tools at least once in the past year. The state also has the third-highest percentage of taxpayers who donate money to charity.”
Expert Commentary
What are the biggest challenges facing U.S.-based charities in the current economic environment?
“The modern philanthropic landscape is walking a tightrope. On one side, public need continues to scale upward; on the other, donor wallets are tightening under the persistent pressure of inflation and economic uncertainty… Recent national data highlights a growing trend of consumer hesitation, with roughly one in four Americans planning to cut back on charitable donations. Even as broader economic signals indicate recovery, everyday households remain cost-conscious and intentional with their discretionary spending … nonprofits are caught in a classic squeeze. While demand for human services, food security, and community outreach climbs, the purchasing power of every donated dollar has been eroded by cumulative inflation. Organizations are no longer able to rely strictly on traditional, year-end holiday giving spikes. With nearly 37% of online revenue historically landing in December alone, the reliance on a single end-of-year window creates massive cash-flow volatility for nonprofits that must pay operational and administrative expenses year-round.”
Andrew Burnstine, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Lynn University
“For one thing, due to the price of food, companies are retaining more damaged and expired foods, to sell as salvage groceries rather than donating to food banks. With the drop in real wages, the average household has less money to donate to charity as well.”
Scott Thorne, Ph.D. – Instructor, Southeast Missouri State University
Do you believe charities should face increased regulations and scrutiny to reduce fraud?
“Transparency is the currency of trust in the non-profit sector. When bad actors exploit the generosity of the American public through fraudulent charities, it deals a devastating blow to donor confidence, ultimately starving legitimate organizations of the funds they desperately need. Increased oversight and smart regulatory frameworks do not punish the sector; rather, they protect it. Requiring clearer, more accessible financial disclosures ensures that donors can give with total peace of mind. Accountability creates a rising tide that lifts high-performing, ethical charities while marginalizing those that treat public goodwill as a private enterprise.”
Andrew Burnstine, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Lynn University
“No. There are plenty of safeguards and regulations in place. They just need to be enforced strictly with stringent penalties for violators.”
Scott Thorne, Ph.D. – Instructor, Southeast Missouri State University
What advice do you have for choosing the right charity?
“Navigating the ocean of registered non-profits can feel overwhelming, but finding an organization worthy of your trust comes down to a few fundamental filters. Start with your personal passions – whether that’s environmental sustainability, local food insecurity, or educational equity – rather than getting distracted by flashy marketing campaigns. Focus on the beneficiary, not just the conduit… look under the hood. Check third-party evaluators or the organization’s public tax filings (Form 990) to see how much of every dollar goes directly toward programmatic execution versus bloated administrative salaries and third-party fundraising fees. People inherently trust recommendations from trusted circles. Ask peers, local educators, or community leaders which organizations they have vetted and partnered with firsthand.”
Andrew Burnstine, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Lynn University
“Start with the Charity Navigator website. The website shows information regarding how transparent a charity is and how much of its fundraising goes to the actual charity and how much goes to administration. In general, a well-managed charity should spend less than 30% of its income on fundraising.”
Scott Thorne, Ph.D. – Instructor, Southeast Missouri State University
