Utah leads all 50 states in charitable behavior, according to a WalletHub study published Nov. 9. The personal finance company ranked Utah first overall with a score of 68.97 out of 100 after comparing states across 17 indicators.
About 47% of Utah residents volunteer, which is the highest rate in the country. These residents also log more than 45 volunteer hours per capita each year, the most of any state. Additionally, Utah families donate roughly 3% of their adjusted gross income to charity on average, representing the largest share nationwide.
Beyond organized service, WalletHub found that more than 68% of Utahns reported helping neighbors with tasks such as watching children, lending tools, or house sitting at least once in the past year. While Utah ranked third in the share of taxpayers who donate money, the state placed 16th in the broader "Charitable Giving" category, which factors in metrics such as the number of charities per capita. Utah ranked 50th out of 50 in charities per capita.
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said that the percentage of income people are willing to donate and the share of the population giving are major factors in demonstrating how charitable people are. Lupo noted that while inflation may prevent some people from donating money, many people generously donate their time instead.
The WalletHub study utilized data collected as of Oct. 12 from the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Census Bureau, AmeriCorps, Feeding America, and other sources.
Local efforts reflect these statewide trends. In September, the Lehi Free Press reported that hundreds of volunteers participated in the fifth annual Lehi Day of Service on Sept. 12. During that event, volunteers cleaned city parks, assembled food kits, and tied blankets at Willow Creek Middle School. Lehi Mayor Paul Binns was present for the closing ceremony, and Cindy Kramer was recognized for dedicating nearly 3,000 volunteer hours to Thanksgiving Point.
The Lone Peak Fire Department will host a blood drive at the Highland Fire Station on Nov. 19 from 1–7 p.m. Donors will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for prizes.
