Generosity Leaders: Ranking Bay Area Counties by Giving
Expanding our analysis of Bay Area philanthropy, we evaluated county-level generosity across multiple dimensions of charitable giving, using the latest IRS tax data.
Overall, San Mateo County stands out as the most generous, with tax filers giving an average of $10,622, representing 3.2% of their income.
San Francisco, Marin, and Santa Clara counties also demonstrate strong giving statistics in terms of the amount of their average donation and the percent of income this donation represents. Households in these counties donate around $8,000 on average, representing about 3% of income.
On the flip side, households in Solano, Sonoma, and Contra Costa counties had the lowest giving amounts in the Bay Area, most likely reflecting the lower income levels in these counties relative to their wealthier counterparts. Households in Solano donated $992 on average, with households in Sonoma giving $1,617, and households in Costa Costa giving $2,045.
When we look at the percentage of tax filers who reported giving to charity, Marin and Contra Costa counties report the highest percentages, with 51% and 48% of households donating to charity, respectively.
Interestingly, there is not a clear relationship between the percent of the population that donates to charity and overall giving levels. For example, while Contra Costa ranks high on the percent of households donating to charity, it ranks second from last on its generosity level relative to income.
These findings highlight the diverse charitable landscape across Bay Area counties, reflecting both economic disparities and potentially differing philanthropic cultures. Future research could explore how volunteer efforts complement these financial giving patterns to provide a more comprehensive picture of regional generosity and how to increase generosity overall.
