The Most and Least Generous States
GettyDuring the season of giving, many Americans pull out their wallets or volunteer time to give back to their communities.
There are numerous ways a person can be charitable. While donating money to an organization is common, many people opt to donate their time and labor. There are also informal ways to give back, like by offering to pet sit for a neighbor.
To determine the most charitable states, Forbes Advisor compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across seven metrics. Our charitable giving statistics for each state are based on that state's charitable giving rate, formal volunteer rate and informal helping rate, as well as changes in each of these rates from 2019 to 2024 and the number of charities per capita.
Key Takeaways
- Iowa is the most charitable state, and Iowans hold the sixth-highest charitable giving rate, with 58% donating $25 or more to charity.
- Florida ranks as the least charitable state. Residents of the Sunshine State have the lowest charitable giving rate (37%) and lowest formal volunteer rate (16%) of all 50 states
Top 5 Most Generous States
1. Iowa
Score: 100 out of 100
With 100 out of 100 points, Iowa holds the honorific of the most charitable state in the U.S. While the Green Mountain State doesn't have the top rank in any one specific metric, it performed well in a combination of categories.
In 2021, 58% of Iowa's residents donated at least $25 to charity, making Iowa the state with the sixth-highest charitable giving rate. And Iowans have a lot of causes to choose from, considering the state has the fifth-highest number of charities per capita.
The state also ranked ninth-highest for informal helping rate in 2021 (60%) and 11th-highest for formal volunteer rate (30%).
2. Minnesota
Score: 99.84 out of 100
Iowa's neighbor to the north shares its generous spirit. Minnesota ranks second for most charitable giving by state, at 62%. It also has the third-highest formal volunteer rate, at 36%.
The Gopher State is also very neighborly. Residents of Minnesota have the sixth-highest informal helping rate (62%). Informal acts of generosity may be more convenient than formal service because the state ranked lower (No. 17) for charities per capita.
3. Montana
Score: 99.22 out of 100
Montana is the third most charitable state on our list and ranked highest for informal helping. An impressive 69% of state residents give back by doing favors for their neighbors.
The Treasure State also ranks fourth-highest for the number of charities per 1,000 residents (12.83) and ninth-highest for both its charitable giving rate (57%) and formal volunteer rate (31%).
4. Washington, D.C.
Score: 95.91 out of 100
The nation's capital ranks highest for the number of charities per 1,000 residents (roughly 33). In addition to having a glut of charitable organizations, D.C. residents have the third-highest rate of charitable giving (61%) and the fifth-highest formal volunteer rate (34%).residents (roughly 7).
5. Nebraska
Score: 94.59 out of 100
The Cornhusker State ranks second-highest for informal helping, with 66% of residents reporting they help by doing favors for neighbors. The state also ranks seventh-highest for formal volunteering, with 34% volunteering through an organization.
On top of that, Nebraskans are generous with their money. The state has the fourth-highest charitable giving rate (61%) and the 13th-highest number of charities per 1,000 residents (about 9).
Top 5 Least Generous States
1. Florida
Score: 0.00 out of 100
Florida ranks as the least charitable state in the nation and is the only state on our list to earn zero out of 100 points. The Sunshine State also has the distinction of ranking lowest in two individual metrics:
- Overall charitable giving (37%)
- Formal volunteer rate (16%)
Floridians aren't much better when it comes to lending a helping hand to neighbors. The state ranks fourth-lowest for informal helping rate, at just 45%, and sixth-lowest for the number of charities per 1,000 residents (nearly 7).
2. California
Score: 8.96 out of 100
The Golden State has the third least charitable residents in the U.S. To be fair, it is one of the top five states where it's most difficult to save money. Only 39% of Californians donated $25 or more to charity in 2021, making the West Coast state the second-worst for charitable giving.
Californians aren't particularly generous by other measures either. Residents of this state rank third-lowest for formal volunteering, at 18%, and sixth-lowest for informal helping, at just 46%. California also has the 11th-lowest number of charities per capita.
3. Nevada
Score: 9.04 out of 100
Compared to all 50 states and D.C., Nevada ranks the lowest for informal helping, at 37%.
California's neighbor to the east also ranks second-lowest on two separate measures of support for charitable organizations: formal volunteering (17%) and charitable giving (39%). The Silver State ranks 11th-lowest for the number of charities per 1,000 residents (roughly 7).
4. Georgia
Score: 11.35 out of 100
Georgia is the worst states for healthcare, and the worst states for neighborly generosity. This state ranks second-lowest for informal helping rate, at 41%.
Georgia performs slightly better when it comes to other charitable acts, coming in sixth-lowest for formal volunteer rate (20%) and 11th-lowest for charitable giving (46%). The Peach State also has the 14th-lowest number of charities per 1,000 residents (7.53).
5. Hawaii
Score: 15.57 out of 100
Hawaii is the worst state to live in for saving money, and the financial strain likely has an impact on giving.
Hawaiians rank poorly across several metrics for generosity, coming in at third-lowest for informal helping and fifth-lowest for formal volunteering. The Aloha state also has the ninth-lowest rate of charitable giving, at 45%.
