Americans who don’t make a lot of money tend to be more generous than those who do.

• America’s poorest demographic is also the most generous, a reality rarely publicized. They give back a higher percentage of their earnings than their higher-income counterparts.
• During the hardest of economic times, they cut back on their giving the least as compared with wealthier people.
• Our nation’s most generous are also the least-educated, oldest, most religious, most likely to rent (instead of own) their homes, be on welfare, drive used cars or rely on public transportation, to be students, minorities, women, and recent immigrants.

Facts & Figures

• The lowest-income fifth of population normally give more than their capacity, the next two-fifths give at capacity, and those above give below capacity (two to three times less than their capacity).
• The poorest fifth of households contributed an average of 4.3% of their incomes to charities in 2007 while the richest gave at 2.1%.

Best Quote

“I believe the more I give, the more I receive… Plus, I’ve been in their position, and someday I might be again.” – Tanya Davis, a laid-off security guard and single mother on why she gives