How Generous Is Minnesota Compared to Other States?

This is the time of year when people look to give back in their local area. For some it’s because they need the tax deduction, and they want to make sure they get it in before the end of the year. 

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For others, it’s because they actually want to meet a need they see in their community. There are so many ways to donate to a charity, especially with the holidays approaching. The feeling people get from knowing they have helped folks who are in need helps accentuate the holiday spirit.  

A recent Wallethub.com report says that the United States is the sixth most generous country in the world, donating around $560 billion per year. 

So, if you break that number down, how does Minnesota rank among the rest of the country in supporting causes? The Wallethub.com report says that Minnesota ranks 3rd out of the 50 states.  

The report considered 17 different what they call “key indicators” to evaluate each state. Minnesotans had a volunteer and service ranking that was 5th best in the country. Just over 35% of the state's residents do some sort of volunteer work. 

Minnesota also placed 5th best in charitable giving.  

But the monetary phase of this study found the Minnesotans would be willing to lend money to their neighbors as well. Only two other states placed higher in that category. Minnesotan’s say they would lend their neighbor $300 if they had a significant need for the money.  

Minnesota residents had the third highest amount of google searches for the word “charity” and the fourth most searches for “volunteer”.  

How do Minnesota’s numbers compare to our neighboring states? 

Iowa ranked 14th in the study. Wisconsin fared much worse, finishing 36th overall. The Dakotas finished in the top half of the results with North Dakota coming in 15th and South Dakota 20th.  

A lot of people will say that 2024 has been a difficult year for one reason or another, but if you can find a way to be in a position to help others, the good news is there are plenty of charities that would love to have your support. A simple good search will help you find those.  

Let’s prove this report accurate.