Providence area ranks near bottom on charitable cities list

THE PROVIDENCE METROPOLITAN AREA ranked 49th out of 50 on a list ranking how much people give in the largest cities. Pictured is Providence City Hall. / COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/ANATOLI LVOV
THE PROVIDENCE METROPOLITAN AREA ranked 49th out of 50 on a list ranking how much people give in the largest cities. Pictured is Providence City Hall. / COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/ANATOLI LVOV

PROVIDENCE – The Chronicle of Philanthropy rated the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas by how much their residents give to charity, and the Providence-New Bedford-Fall-River area ranked second-from-last, coming in only ahead of Hartford, Conn.
Providence and Hartford each had a 1.9 percent giving rate in 2012, based on Internal Revenue Service data. That represents an 8.3 percent drop in giving since 2006 for the Providence metro area, and an 8.9 percent change in giving for that same period for Hartford, according to the ranking.
It states that in the Providence metro area, total charitable contributions were $560 million, with a median contribution of $1,831.
Breaking income into categories, those making between $50,000 and $75,000 contributed the most with a giving ratio of 2 percent, and average contribution of $1,597. In comparison, those making $200,000 or more contributed 1.99 percent, an average of $9,998, and those making up to $25,000 had a giving ratio of 5 percent with average contribution at $1,177.
Boston ranked 47th with a 2.3 percent giving rate, a 3.8 percent drop in giving since 2006.
The most charitable areas?
Salt Lake City with a 5.4 percent giving rate, a 2.7 percent increase in giving over the last six years; Memphis, Tenn., with a 5.1 percent giving rate, a 6.7 percent increase; and Birmingham, Ala., 4.8 percent, a 1.7 percent increase.
Read the entire list HERE.

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  1. And?? You are surprised??? The areas you note as MOST charitable have LOW taxes and growing economies. Our legislature TAKES money from us working stiffs to distribute among those they determine as “less fortunate”. Leaving the rest of us barely able to provide for our families or employees, if we are fortunate to have any.

    Constance Kirk