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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 9, 2005
CONTACT: Ron Ancrum, 617-426-2606 x13; rancrum@agmconnect.org
Gail Pinkham, 617-426-2606 x29; gpinkham@agmconnect.org
Higher Rates of Participation and Secular Giving in New
England
New study reveals different giving patterns, confirms higher participation
rates in overall giving by New Englanders. Link between giving and
community connections suggested.
BOSTON, MA – New national research reveals that New Englanders
not only participate more frequently in charitable giving than their
counterparts across the country, but they also give to secular (non-religious)
causes at significantly higher levels. Specifically, the study released
today shows that:
• Eighty-two percent (82%) of New England households gave
to a charitable cause (either secular or religious) in 2002, compared
to 67% of households nationally.
• New Englanders who give at all to secular causes give a
much higher amount (average of $1,190) compared with giving to secular
causes nationwide (average of $863).
• New Englanders who give at all to religious causes give
much less (average of $918) compared with national religious donors
(average of $1,743).
The study, A Closer Look at New England Giving (November
2005) was commissioned from the Center on Philanthropy and co-funded
by organizations in the six New England States: Associated Grant
Makers (Massachusetts), Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, Maine
Center for Philanthropy, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Rhode
Island Foundation and Vermont Community Foundation.
“We’re very excited about this report,” said
Ron Ancrum, President of Associated Grant Makers. “It affirms
what we in the philanthropic community have long known – New
Englanders are active givers and care deeply about their communities.
They are willing to step up to the plate to meet community needs.”
Taken in context with the report released by the Boston Foundation
on Tuesday, this study further erodes the “Yankee frugality”
label which is sometimes used to characterize giving in this region.
“The incredibly wide participation – 82% - of New England
households in charitable donations is very important,” notes
Ancrum, “It really speaks to how ingrained giving is in our
culture here.”
A Closer Look at New England Giving, is based upon national
survey data that has for the first time ever been analyzed by region.
Past giving analyses have relied upon IRS charitable deduction data,
which enabled a look at itemizers only. State-specific survey research
has not permitted regional and national comparisons on secular giving.
This national data set on religious and secular giving is drawn
from the Center on Philanthropy Panel Study (COPPS), a recently
added module of a survey called the Panel Study of Income Dynamics
that has been ongoing for almost 40 years.
The new findings also indicate that the commitment to giving in
New England is found across all segments of the community, varying
only based upon income or wealth – that is, capacity to give.
Giving in New England, it appears, is part of the very fabric of
our lives, whether younger or older, married or single.
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Associated Grant Makers (AGM) is the regional membership association
for foundation trustees and staff, corporate grant makers, donors,
and philanthropic advisory services that supports the practice and
expansion of effective philanthropic giving and builds connections
with nonprofit leaders in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. For more
information on AGM, please see our website: www.agmconnect.org,
or call 617.426.2606.
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