The spirit of giving is alive and thriving in the United States, marking a significant rebound in generosity.

According to the latest World Giving Index, the U.S. surged to the third position in 2022, bouncing back from a notable decline in 2021 when it ranked 19th among the world's most charitable nations.

A Look at the Numbers

In 2022, charitable donations from U.S. donors amounted to nearly $500 billion, a testament to the nation's philanthropic spirit.

Notably, individuals contributed 64% of these funds directly, as highlighted by the National Philanthropic Trust.

Beyond monetary donations, Americans showcase their altruism through time investment.

A staggering 61 million individuals volunteer nationwide, dedicating a cumulative 4.1 billion hours annually.

This volunteerism equates to an approximate value of $122.9 billion in service.

Unveiling Charitable Rankings Across States

WalletHub embarked on a quest to identify the most charitable states among the fifty, evaluating them across 19 key indicators of charitable behavior.

The criteria ranged from volunteer rates to income shares donated and sheltered homeless percentages.

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Methodology Behind the Rankings

To discern the most philanthropic states, WalletHub employed two primary dimensions: "Volunteering & Service" and "Charitable Giving." Across these dimensions, 19 metrics were assessed, each carrying specific weights.

Every metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a perfect score denoting the highest level of charity.

Subsequently, the weighted average across all metrics for each state determined its overall score, enabling the ranking of states based on their charitable contributions.

How You Can Contribute

Amidst this season of giving, WalletHub offers a Charity Calculator to guide individuals seeking to give back rather than receive.

This tool assists in determining the most impactful ways to contribute, tailored to one's resources and availability.