America’s Most Generous States in 2025: Wyoming, Utah, and Maryland Lead WalletHub Ranking
New WalletHub report reveals the top U.S. states for charitable giving, volunteerism, and generosity amid ongoing economic challenges.
A report on the most generous U.S. states of 2025 ranked Wyoming, Utah, and Maryland at the top, according to a financial analysis by WalletHub.
The study evaluated charitable giving behaviors across all states using 17 key indicators, including the percentage of income donated, the number of volunteer hours, and the ratio of charities per capita.
Charitable giving remains a cornerstone of American society. In 2024, citizens donated over $592 billion and volunteered nearly 5 billion hours. WalletHub’s analysis highlights states where residents show exceptional generosity in both money and time—an especially important measure amid ongoing national economic challenges.
Wyoming, Utah, and Maryland Lead U.S. in Charitable Giving for 2025
Wyoming topped the list thanks to its high annual volunteer hours per capita (29 hours) and donations averaging around 4% of adjusted gross income. Utah stood out with the highest volunteer participation rate in the country—about 40.7% of residents—and average donations between 3.5% and 3.89% of income.
Meanwhile, Maryland recorded the highest percentage of taxpayers contributing to charities, as well as an abundance of highly rated nonprofit organizations per capita.
Conversely, states such as New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada reported lower rates of financial donations and volunteer hours, reflecting significant differences in charitable culture across the U.S. WalletHub used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, tax agencies, and organizations like Feeding America, rating each indicator on a 0–100 scale before finalizing the results in October 2025.
Experts Highlight Social Impact Behind America’s Most Generous States
Commenting on the findings, WalletHub analyst Chip Lobo said:“The most generous states aren’t just those that give the most money, but those where a larger share of residents contribute both financially and with their time.”
Jessica Ward, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Nevada, added:“Dedicating time and money to charitable causes strengthens social responsibility and teaches younger generations the value of community involvement.”
The report—consistent with similar annual studies—shows how generosity levels vary with economic conditions, legislation, and cultural factors, and suggests that states’ future rankings will depend on their residents’ continued willingness to give both time and financial support.
