We’re no Scrooges, but Illinois and other Great Lakes states come off as a bit tightfisted in our charity in a new national report from the Glenview-based Giving USA Foundation.
The report compared giving in 2002 for nine U.S. regions. The Great Lakes region — Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio — trailed national averages in all nine categories studied. For example, the region lagged in percentage of households donating (62 percent versus 67 percent nationally), average gift per household ($994 versus $1,262 nationally) and in those giving to religious and to secular causes.
The report offered some explanations for this region’s showing. With the exception of Illinois, these states had a lower percentage of college graduates than the national average, and levels of education and giving tend to correspond.
Illinois, Indiana and Michigan have flat and relatively low state income tax rates. People who pay high state income taxes are likelier to itemize deductions on federal returns and make use of the charitable deduction to lower their tax bills. Non-itemizers haven’t had such a motivation in their giving.
(A proposal in a tax bill passed by the Senate would make the charitable deduction available to all tax filers, including non-itemizers. That provision is not included in the corresponding House bill, so a conference committee will have to reconcile the difference.)
The study showed quirks in each region. For instance, New England had the highest rate of donor households (82 percent), and its donors gave far more to secular than religious causes. Plains states had the top average gift total ($1,458), the Mid-Atlantic states the lowest ($965).
Attention, shoppers: Independent Sector, a national coalition of non-profits, offers these holiday tips for donating and volunteering:
– Be an informed donor. Learn about a charity and its operations, governance and finances. Visit its Web site or call to request information. Do more research on the Web sites of groups as GuideStar (guidestar.org), BBB Wise Giving Alliance (give.org), and American Institute of Philanthropy (charitywatch.org).
– Focus on results, not ratios. “There is no ideal fundraising percentage nor standard administrative cost that applies to all charities. … What’s more important than financial calculations is the organization’s track record in achieving results and fulfilling its mission effectively and efficiently,” the coalition advises.
– Don’t give your credit card number or other financial information over the phone. Ask for information in writing. No reputable group would pressure you to give immediately.
– For volunteering, research causes or issues important to you. Consider an organization you already support financially.
– Consider volunteering as a family.
– Become a year-round volunteer. Check for opportunities on Web sites of groups such as Idealist (idealist.org), Points of Light Foundation (pointsoflight.org), VolunteerMatch (volunteermatch.org) and Youth Service America (servenet.org).
Kudos: Robert Clayton, a chemistry and geophysical sciences professor at the University of Chicago, is among the eight recent recipients of the National Medals of Science, the nation’s highest scientific honor. He was cited for his work in cosmic chemistry. … John Keene, a novelist-poet who teaches English and African-American studies at Northwestern University, was one of 10 winners of this year’s $40,000 awards for emerging writers from New York’s Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation.
Grants: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation of Princeton, N.J., is committing $23 million to three initiatives aimed at eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health-care treatment. A University of Chicago team will lead one initiative. Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago is among 10 hospitals participating in an initiative led by George Washington University.
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cstorch@tribune.com
