A recent spate of disasters — including the Oklahoma tornadoes, the Boston bombing and the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas — has people across the country reaching for their wallets to help out.
But, if past trends are any indication, residents in some states tend to be a lot more generous than others.
And the analysis isn’t flattering to Connecticut.
Utah, home to the nation’s biggest Mormon population, is also the most charitable state, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s most recent report that looks at giving as a percentage of discretionary income — your income excluding essential expenses.
Mormons are supposed to tithe at least 10 percent of their income to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the median donation among Utah households lines up with that requirement — amounting to $5,255 per household, or 10.6 percent of discretionary income.
That generosity is even more impressive considering the median discretionary income in the state is less than $50,000 — the fifth lowest in the country.
Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina round out the top five, giving between 7.2 percent and 6.4 percent of annual discretionary income.
There’s a direct correlation between giving and religion, the Chronicle found, with residents of Southern states donating larger portions of their income than their Northeastern counterparts.
“Giving is very much part of religion,” said Daniel Borochoff, president of charity rating service CharityWatch. “The organized efforts by religious groups also motivate and inspire people to give.”
The stingiest state in the country is New Hampshire, according to the Chronicle. Even though the median discretionary income in New Hampshire is over $59,000 — one of the highest in the nation — households in the state only gave 2.5 percent of that, or $1,500. Residents of Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts all donated less than 3% of discretionary income, while Rhode Islanders gave 3.1 percent.
Connecticut comes in next — sixth from the bottom — at 3.3 percent.
Overall, residents of Southern states donated about 5.2 percent of discretionary income to charity, compared to 4% in the Northeast. Excluding donations to religious charities, Northeasterners outpace Southerners, giving 1.4 percent of discretionary income to secular charities like the American Red Cross and Stamford’s AmeriCares, compared with 0.9 percent from their neighbors to the South.
The Chronicle developed its rankings by analyzing itemized charitable deductions from 2008 IRS data, the most recent available. While many donors don’t itemize their taxes, there is no concrete data for unitemized donations. And because those who itemize often do so as a result of high state and local taxes or high mortgage payments and taxes, the Chronicle excluded cost of living and state and local taxes when calculating income.
And many other people who give money don’t even record their donations.
“A lot of giving is done outside of organized philanthropy — particularly now with crowdfunding — and the poorer you are the more people you know who need charity and you give directly,” said Borochoff.
People’s United awards
The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank in Bridgeport, has awarded $896, 444 in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the communities it serves in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
The majority — $587,944 — went to Connecticut programs.
The largest Connecticut donation was $182,544 to the United Way of Fairfield County. The PT Barnum Foundation in Bridgeport received $50,000 and the Barnum Museum Foundation received another $25,000. A $20,000 grant went to Workplace Inc. in Bridgeport. Grants of $12,000 each went to the Connecticut Pre-Engineering Program in Middletown and the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board Inc. in Franklin. Justice Education Center Inc. in West Hartford received $10,000.
In all, 128 organizations received funding in support of activities that ranged from education programs and basic needs services to workforce development programs and affordable housing. The funding was distributed within the foundation’s three areas of focus, with 35 percent allocated to youth development, 31 percent to community development, and 14 percent to affordable housing initiatives. The People’s United Community Foundation also contributed 20 percent of its funding to local United Way organizations across its footprint through the People’s United Bank employee match campaign.
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The Hartford aids Foodshare
The final tally shows May 5 was indeed a beautiful day for a walk to benefit Foodshare.
A last minute matching gift of $25,000 from The Hartford pushed the regional food bank over the top, resulting in $638,000 — the largest amount ever raised by this hallmark event. The Hartford raised $190,000 overall and fielded 49 teams.
The 30th annual fundraiser drew more than 4,000 Connecticut residents to Bushnell Park for a 2.5 mile stroll.
Funds will ensure many local emergency programs are able to continue providing community members with the tools and support they need today to become self-sufficient tomorrow.
