Contributions to charitable organizations, measured as an average per tax return with itemized contributions.
Charitable giving supports a wide variety of organizations, including those that provide essential services to the community and people in need. The level of giving shows residents' willingness to invest in programs and organizations serving the community.
In 2017, the average charitable contribution in the Mid-Hudson Valley region was about $3,900, below the $5,300 state (excluding NYC) and $6,800 national average. The region's average contribution increased 23% from $3,200 in 2011, below the state (excluding NYC) and national increase of 26% and 33% respectively over the same timeframe. Residents in Columbia County had the highest average charitable contribution in the region at just below $5,500 followed by Orange County at $4,400 and the lowest was Sullivan County at $3,100 in 2017.
Figures are in constant 2018 dollars. These figures reflect contributions listed on tax returns with itemized deductions, which researchers estimate cover about 80% of all charitable giving nationally. High-income taxpayers are much more likely to file tax returns with itemized deductions than those with lower incomes. No county or state data are available on charitable contributions by taxpayers who take the standard deduction.
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | $3,197 | $3,282 | $3,364 | $3,565 | $3,736 | $3,714 | $3,916 |
| Columbia County | $3,774 | $4,544 | $4,392 | $5,580 | $5,544 | $4,382 | $5,477 |
| Dutchess County | $3,430 | $3,374 | $3,579 | $3,596 | $3,671 | $3,710 | $3,619 |
| Greene County | $2,748 | $2,854 | $2,715 | $2,786 | $2,760 | $2,917 | $3,179 |
| Orange County | $3,259 | $3,435 | $3,476 | $3,736 | $4,065 | $4,165 | $4,442 |
| Putnam County | $3,021 | $3,066 | $3,235 | $3,432 | $3,479 | $3,301 | $3,813 |
| Sullivan County | $2,790 | $2,958 | $2,920 | $3,046 | $3,558 | $3,194 | $3,124 |
| Ulster County | $2,815 | $2,745 | $2,757 | $2,911 | $2,991 | $3,125 | $3,246 |
| NYS (excluding NYC) | $4,179 | $4,611 | $4,469 | $4,785 | $4,890 | $5,207 | $5,280 |
| U.S. | $5,097 | $5,621 | $5,686 | $6,056 | $6,282 | $6,504 | $6,768 |
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | $595,731,512 | $602,324,753 | $608,438,932 | $633,563,191 | $670,942,623 | $666,425,865 | $707,812,978 |
| Columbia County | $31,089,895 | $35,984,923 | $33,997,325 | $42,798,376 | $42,354,581 | $33,474,726 | $41,789,360 |
| Dutchess County | $176,183,143 | $171,545,780 | $179,293,311 | $176,399,443 | $181,260,824 | $183,874,015 | $181,094,738 |
| Greene County | $14,898,590 | $15,011,035 | $13,874,875 | $13,679,909 | $13,663,691 | $14,407,890 | $15,737,213 |
| Orange County | $202,651,417 | $211,385,997 | $212,186,854 | $226,540,017 | $249,423,538 | $254,151,584 | $274,908,485 |
| Putnam County | $68,739,368 | $69,317,624 | $72,617,811 | $75,703,559 | $78,281,495 | $74,858,045 | $86,255,541 |
| Sullivan County | $26,795,359 | $27,688,114 | $26,281,635 | $26,619,446 | $31,101,132 | $27,339,524 | $26,930,078 |
| Ulster County | $75,373,739 | $71,391,279 | $70,187,121 | $71,822,440 | $74,857,362 | $78,320,082 | $81,097,563 |
| NYS (excluding NYC) | $7,393,165,930 | $8,068,347,657 | $7,703,310,882 | $8,133,662,231 | $8,361,459,345 | $8,892,378,021 | $9,075,389,295 |
| U.S. | $193,744,533,491 | $210,345,910,818 | $208,096,214,840 | $218,953,997,948 | $230,147,066,916 | $241,153,392,093 | $256,609,761,175 |
| INDICATORS | TREND | STATE |
|---|---|
| Average Charitable Giving | Increasing |
| Voter Registration Rate | Increasing |
| Voter Participation Rate | Decreasing |
Children & Youth
Community Engagement
Demographics
Economy
Education
Financial Stability
Health
Housing
Public Safety
