U.S. donors gave more than $617 billion to charity in 2025, with nearly 64 percent of the funds coming directly from individuals, according to the Giving USA. The latest World Giving Index, prepared by the Charities Aid Foundation, shows that the United States ranks 47 among 105 countries in terms of the share of income donated.
In addition to donating money, Americans also volunteer their time. Nearly 76 million people volunteer in the U.S., a total of 5 billion hours per year, the equivalent of more than $167 billion in contributions.
So, which states rank the highest and the lowest in charitable contributions? WalletHub, a personal finance website, ranked the 50 states on 17 indicators, which range from the volunteer rate to the share of income donated to the number of food banks per capita.
| Most Charitable States | ||||
| 1. Utah 2. Wyoming 3. Minnesota 4. Maryland 5. Delaware 6. Virginia 7. Colorado 8. Pennsylvania 9. North Dakota 10. Maine | 11. Oregon 12. Alaska 13. Montana 14. Iowa 15. Ohio 16. Connecticut 17. Idaho 18. Georgia 19. Illinois 20. New Hampshire | |||
“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,” Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, said in an email.
On charitable contributions, people in Utah donate about 3 percent of their adjusted gross income, on average, the most in the country, according to the WalletHub analysis.
Wyoming is the second-most charitable state, with residents spending an average of about 28 hours per year volunteering, the fifth-most in the country. They also give money to charities, donating more 2 percent of their adjusted gross income on average, the highest percentage in the country.
Minnesota is the third-most charitable state, with the third-highest share of the population that volunteers, at more than 40 percent.
The states ranking at the bottom of the WalletHub charity analysis are Michigan, Florida, Arizona, West Virginia, Louisiana, Alaband Mississippi, Rhode Island, Nevada, and New Mexico.
How to choose 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, said Andrew Burnstine, Ph.D., associate professor at the College of Business and Management at Lynn University:
- Find the cause before the charity: 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.
- Examine the financial efficiency: Do research. Check third-party evaluators or the organization’s public tax filings, Form 990, to see how much of every dollar goes directly toward carrying out programs versus bloated administrative salaries and third-party fundraising fees.
- Leverage your personal network: People trust recommendations from trusted circles. Ask peers, local educators, or community leaders which organizations they’ve vetted and partnered with firsthand.
