Arizona rates near bottom on list of states that give to charity
Nov 27, 2018, 9:04 AM

(Pixabay.com Photo)
(Pixabay.com Photo)
PHOENIX – When it comes to giving money or time to charity, wallets in Arizona are sealed tighter than a zip-close bag.
A WalletHub survey released on international Giving Tuesday ranked Arizona 48th in the United States for generosity.
The Grand Canyon State barely finished ahead of Rhode Island, 48.86 to 48.81 out of 100 points. Nevada was worst at 47.91.
Arizona ranked dead last in charitable giving.
The survey combined two factors — volunteering and service, worth 50 points, and charitable giving, also worth 50 points — for the overall score of each state.
Breaking down the findings further, Arizona was 37th in volunteering and service. That category included volunteer rate, volunteer hours per capita, community service requirement for high school graduation and residents who do favors for neighbors.
Charitable giving included share of the population donating money, public charities per capita, share of homeless shelters and Google search interest for “charitable donations.”
Minnesota topped the list with a score of 69.14. Utah was second with 67.76. Arizona’s neighbor to the north had the highest rates for volunteers, percentage of donated income, percentage of population who donated time and percentage of population who donated money.
The days after Thanksgiving are “A great time to think of others,” Kristen Merrifield, CEO of Phoenix-based Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday, “… ride that wave of thankfulness and giving.
“Consider making a gift … on Giving Tuesday,” she said.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Griselda Zetino contributed to this report.