Understanding
the Giving Landscape
Individual charitable giving is tremendously important to the health
and vitality of our communities and citizens. Annually individuals
and households contribute billions of dollars to charitable causes.
Various national indices such as the Generosity
Index have noted that there appear to be distinct state-specific
patterns to giving – some states being more “generous”
than others – based on measures that compare average per capita
income against charitable donations. However, there has been, to
date, relatively little research attempting to explain the variations
in giving between states.
In 2004, New Ventures in Philanthropy commissioned The University
of New Hampshire Whittemore School of Business to undertake a rigorous
analysis of IRS data and other key national data sets to look at
these differences. A report of specific state analysis was made
available to each regional association of grant makers. The summary
report on Massachusetts, requested by AGM, includes comparisons
to four other states of similar income levels. Their research, presented
below, identified how state economic and social context can influence
giving. They identified seven factors that tend to positively influence
giving, and three factors that appear to negatively influence giving.
Please note that this report does not attempt to explain individual
giving behaviors. Rather, it looks at an entire state in comparison
with other states.
Click here to view Understanding the Giving Landscape-Massachusetts:
www.agmconnect.org/givinglandscape.pdf
A report by Professor Ross Gittell, Ph.D, and Edinaldo Tebaldi,
Whittemore School of Business, University of New Hampshire, 2004.
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