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Once Again, Red Staters Lead the Nation in Private Charitable Giving

By: Jeff Emanuel (Diary)  |  December 29th, 2011 at 11:30 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

The Fraser Institute has released their latest report on charitable giving in the U.S. and Canada, and once again North America’s leaders in charitable donations from the Rio Grande to the Arctic Circle reside overwhelmingly in red states. This has been the case for some time, and the reason for it almost certainly comes down to a difference in philosophy regarding charity and the role of private/public institutions in its application. It’s unsurprising that conservatives – who by and large believe in the sovereignty of the individual, particularly in terms of fiscal decision-making – choose to give of their own net incomes to charitable causes and organizations that they find worthwhile. It’s also unsurprising (and stereotypical) that liberals choose to give less of their own net income to charity, instead leaving that responsibility to the government, which replaces the individual as the evaluator and benefactor of charitable organizations and endeavors.  Based on that philosophy of charity and responsibility, it’s no surprise that some liberals have been calling on the government to reduce or eliminate the charitable giving tax deduction.

Based on 2009 data, the Fraser Institute found that the top ten states by percentage of aggregate income donated to charity are: (1) Utah, (2) Georgia, (3) Alabama, (4) Maryland, (5) South Carolina, (6) Idaho, (7) North Carolina, (8) Oklahoma, (9) Mississippi and New York.  The rest of the top half are below the fold:

11. Tennessee

12. Kansas

13. Washington, DC

14. Virginia

15. South Dakota

16. Montana

17. Arkansas

18. Connecticut

19. Colorado

19. Wyoming

21. Minnesota

22. Michigan

22. Oregon

24. Delaware

25. Texas

Those coming in at the bottom of the pack had some New England flavor to them: (45) Hawaii, (46) Rhode Island, (47) West Virginia, (48) New Hampshire, (49) Vermont, (50) North Dakota.

COMMENTS

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  • seanl

    Saw this in my inbox this morning. Democratic ex-Governor of Pennsylvania explains why Democrats should be afraid to run against Santorum. Go to 1:05:

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/45811753#45811753

    • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

      And I thought Romneybots were annoying.

    • acat

      This diary has nothing to do with Santorum.

      Mew

    • http://jeffemanuel.net Jeff Emanuel

      That’s not a request. Thanks in advance.

    • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

      nt.

  • acat

    I was having lunch with my gay communist friend a bit before Christmas, and we got onto the subject of charitable giving.

    I pointed out that most giving comes from areas with lower average incomes but less government. He was surprised, but agreed to look into it.

    I will be sending your link along.

    Thank you, and Happy New Year.

    Mew

    • rpopp23

      Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compasionate Conservatism Who Gives, Who Doesn’t, and Why It Matters by Arthur Brooks.

      This guy was a liberal who looked at giving – mostly in the US, but also did some international investigation. Not too surprising to most of us – but shocking to your communist friend.

  • westcoastpatriette

    make sure is never heard. And one that needs to be shouted from the house tops.

    Voluntary charitable giving is the answer conservatives should have on the tip of our tongues every time we come to the table to discuss how to reverse course and get the government out of the job of social engineering. From welfare to free health care for the indigent, rather than legislation that forces taxpayers to give against their will and with no control over the dispersion or outcome of their money, we need to return to old fashioned charity to fill those needs.

    It’s fairer, cheaper, more effective and allows communities to care for their own. The left despises these kinds of answers and attempt to demonize anyone who goes there. Disgusting and down right evil if you ask me.

    But where are the conservative voices promoting these answers?

  • logcabin4newt
    I am a proud Log Cabin Republican serving in the Navy.

    I proudly defend this country and am proudly gay.

    I think in ’12 we can win the gay vote with people like Newt and Romney.

    Lets put our money where our mouths are and show that we can widen this big GOP tent!

    • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

      Also, I don’t think this diary was intended to be a forum through which folks could solicit for their favorite causes.

      • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

        nt

  • geoph

    Good for us!
    After 8 years of that Canadian Socialist running us into the ground, the collapse of the US Auto Industry, the fact we never participated in the recovery of the Naughties, being a strong (if their is still such a thing) union state, and of course the albatross that is Detroit – we really are a good people!

    So many in need of assistance, and yet still so many who give what and when they can. Much like a mitten, we gatcha covered.

    (and our Lions are in the playoffs after a dozen years)