- Some rich Americans are more generous than others.
- 2016 tax returns indicate that the average person making more than $500,000 in the United States donated just under $74,000.
- But in states like Alaska and West Virginia, the average rich person donated much less.
The charitable spending habits of wealthy Americans vary greatly across the US.
The average person making over $500,000 in the United States donated just under $74,000, according to 2016 tax returns.
But in states like West Virginia, New Jersey, and Alaska, the rich tend to be less giving. The average charitable contribution in West Virginia was $31,314 last year.
Using IRS data, Business Insider ranked how charitable giving differs from state to state.
The IRS publishes data about the number of people who itemize their tax returns every year, and how many people claim which deductions by state and by income bracket.
To arrive at the rankings, we looked at the people who itemized and made between $500,000 and $1 million, and more than $1 million in the year 2016 (the most recent one for which we have data). We looked at how many claimed the itemized deduction for charitable giving. The IRS also indicates how much money was claimed to be donated. Using that information, we could figure out the average claimed donation per $500,000+ income tax return per state.
See where the least charitable rich in America live:
25. South Carolina
Average annual charitable contribution: $61,537.53
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 97%
24. Mississippi
Average annual charitable contribution: $60,325.82
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 95%
23. Indiana
Average annual charitable contribution: $59,789.05
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 96%
22. Kentucky
Average annual charitable contribution: $58,410.54
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 96%
21. Connecticut
Average annual charitable contribution: $57,873.77
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 96%
20. North Carolina
Average annual charitable contribution: $57,453.36
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 96%
19. North Dakota
Average annual charitable contribution: $57,067.89
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 93%
18. Michigan
Average annual charitable contribution: $55,535.17
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 97%
17. Pennsylvania
Average annual charitable contribution: $52,337.59
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 96%
16. Virginia
Average annual charitable contribution: $52,274.23
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 95%
15. Wisconsin
Average annual charitable contribution: $51,880.36
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 96%
14. Minnesota
Average annual charitable contribution: $51,297.16
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 96%
13. Louisiana
Average annual charitable contribution: $50,829.51
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 95%
12. Ohio
Average annual charitable contribution: $50,738.29
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 95%
11. Iowa
Average annual charitable contribution: $50,434.92
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 97%
10. Arizona
Average annual charitable contribution: $48,670.15
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 95%
9. Maryland
Average annual charitable contribution: $48,452.67
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 96%
8. New Mexico
Average annual charitable contribution: $47,200.95
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 92%
7. Delaware
Average annual charitable contribution: $42,356.20
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 96%
6. Hawaii
Average annual charitable contribution: $40,960.00
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 90%
5. Rhode Island
Average annual charitable contribution: $38,207.96
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 96%
4. Maine
Average annual charitable contribution: $38,201.66
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 95%
3. New Jersey
Average annual charitable contribution: $37,368.90
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 95%
2. Alaska
Average annual charitable contribution: $36,124.63
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 94%
1. West Virginia
Average annual charitable contribution: $31,313.68
Percentage of people making $500,000+ a year who donate: 92%