Community Life
Average Charitable Contribution

Maintaining


Charitable Contributions as a Percent of Income

What does this measure?

Contributions to charitable organizations, measured as a percentage of income.

Why is this important?

Charitable giving supports a wide variety of organizations, including those that provide essential services to the community and people in need. The level of giving shows residents' willingness to invest in programs and organizations serving the community, and their trust in those organizations to address causes important to them.

How is our region doing?

In 2021, MetroWest residents contributed just over $5 billion - or 1.9% of their income - to charitable organizations. This was up from 1.7% in 2020, when giving totaled $3.8 billion (in inflation-adjusted 2021 dollars). The region's rate in 2021 was identical to the state (1.9%) and similar to the nation (1.7%). Among local counties, giving was highest in 2021 in Middlesex, at 2.3%, and lowest in Worcester, at 0.8%.

Notes about the data

Figures are in constant 2021 dollars. Comparable data for some years was not available. Comparable data for some years was not available. These figures reflect contributions listed on tax returns with itemized deductions, which researchers estimate cover about 80% of all charitable giving nationally. No county or state data are available on charitable contributions by taxpayers who take the standard deduction.

Charitable Contributions as a Percent of Income
20112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
United States2.1%2.1%2.1%2.1%2.2%2.3%2.3%1.7%1.6%1.5%1.7%
Massachusetts1.7%1.9%1.9%1.9%1.8%2.0%2.1%1.7%1.5%1.5%1.9%
Region1.8%2.0%2.0%1.9%1.9%2.1%2.2%1.9%1.7%1.7%1.9%
Middlesex County1.9%2.1%2.2%2.1%2.1%2.3%2.3%2.2%2.1%2.1%2.3%
Norfolk County2.2%2.2%2.2%2.1%2.1%2.3%2.5%1.9%1.6%1.6%1.8%
Worcester County1.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%1.3%0.7%0.7%0.6%0.8%

Source: Internal Revenue Service
Notes: Figures are in constant 2021 dollars.




Total Charitable Giving
20112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
United States$225,801,377,297$245,149,607,659$242,527,678,456$255,181,983,256$268,227,050,095$281,054,474,638$299,068,244,440$224,615,289,913$211,162,222,558$217,975,479,131$271,476,794,173
Massachusetts$5,417,535,987$6,200,016,134$6,391,753,690$6,806,369,863$6,798,360,944$7,428,004,994$8,048,484,101$6,705,967,998$6,094,168,313$6,274,196,589$9,030,653,747
Region$3,122,685,927$3,529,642,825$3,588,375,143$3,692,957,094$3,852,866,288$4,128,467,320$4,596,297,687$4,003,449,587$3,704,695,648$3,816,043,172$5,074,233,986
Middlesex County$1,761,169,295$2,025,454,963$2,145,449,073$2,205,558,726$2,273,095,788$2,480,679,944$2,618,593,652$2,638,767,786$2,518,296,865$2,617,045,437$3,425,295,811
Norfolk County$987,593,369$1,108,285,150$1,047,051,568$1,093,261,795$1,152,389,025$1,213,053,737$1,524,018,344$1,103,229,644$925,644,766$968,551,894$1,327,802,854
Worcester County$373,923,263$395,902,711$395,874,502$394,136,573$427,381,475$434,733,639$453,685,692$261,452,157$260,754,017$230,445,840$321,135,320

Source: Internal Revenue Service
Notes: Figures are in constant 2021 dollars.




INDICATORS REGIONAL TREND
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Decreasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Opioid Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Crimes Against People Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age/Gender Not Applicable
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Maintaining
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Decreasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
80/20 Income Ratio Maintaining
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homelessness Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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