We’re known to be extremely friendly & loving people here in the Northwest, and while we have some cities that are happier than others, wouldn’t it be interesting to know which areas in our state are the most generous?
As reported by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, these 15 counties in Washington donated the most to charity in 2012, although there are always honorable contributions happening that are not recorded. The Giving Ratios for these areas are the percentages of Adjusted Gross Income given to charity, as determined by the charitable deductions reported on income-tax forms. Based on this information, here are the most giving counties according to this source:
- Lewis
Flickr / gmbernstein Giving Ratio: 3.21% / Total contributions in 2012: $27,287,000 / Median contribution: $3,082 Biggest cities: Centralia, Chehalis, Napavine, Winlock, Toledo
- Island
Flickr / 99601495@N07 Giving Ratio: 3.21% / Total contributions in 2012: $45,280,000 / Median contribution: $3,085 Biggest cities: Oak Harbor, Langley, town of Coupeville
- Okanogan
Flickr / fbohac
Giving Ratio: 3.22% / Total contributions in 2012: $8,312,000 / Median contribution: $3,843 Biggest cities: Omak, Okanogan, Oroville, Pateros, Tonasket, Brewster
- King
Flickr / 18378305@N00 Giving Ratio: 3.23% / Total contributions in 2012: $2,222,948,000 / Median contribution: $3,194 Biggest cities: Seattle, Bellevue, Federal Way, Issaquah, Enumclaw, Snoqualmie, Redmond
- Stevens
City Data Giving Ratio: 3.31% / Total contributions in 2012: $11,197,000 / Median contribution: $3,337 Biggest cities: Colville, Kettle Falls, Chewelah
- Clallam
Flickr / brewbooks Giving Ratio: 3.44% / Total contributions in 2012: $28,232,000 / Median contribution: $3,324 Biggest cities: Port Angeles, Forks, Sequim
- Benton
Flickr / bdewey
Giving Ratio 3.67% / Total contributions in 2012: $101,298,000 / Median contribution: $4,434 Biggest cities: Kennewick, Prosser, Benton City, Richland, West Richland
- Garfield
Flickr / onohiroki Giving Ratio: 3.93% / Total contributions in 2012: $414,000 / Median contribution: $3,864 Biggest city: Pomeroy
- Ferry
Flickr / mytravelphotos Giving Ratio: 4.02% / Total contributions in 2012: $1,300,000 / Median contribution: $4,107 Biggest communities: Republic, Curlew, Inchelium, Keller
- Columbia
Flickr / travelwitheric
Giving Ratio: 4.11% / Total contributions in 2012: $1,023,000 / Median contribution: $3,555 Biggest communities: Dayton, Starbuck
- Walla Walla
Flickr / jason_lacey
Giving Ratio: 4.12% / Total contributions in 2012: $29,196,000 / Median contribution: $4,373 Biggest cities: Walla Walla, Waitsburg, Prescott, College Place
- San Juan
Flickr / medhead Giving Ratio: 4.33% / Total contributions in 2012: $22,681,000 / Median contribution: $3,206 Biggest community: Friday Harbor
- Grant
Flickr / functoruser Giving Ratio: 4.33% / Total contributions in 2012: $30,962,000 / Median contribution: $4,303 Biggest cities: Ephrata, Grand Coulee, Moses Lake, Quincy, Royal City, Mattawa, Soap Lake
- Whitman
Flickr / thestroms
Giving Ratio: 4.50% / Total contributions in 2012: $16,330,000 / Median contribution: $5,131 Biggest cities: Pullman, Colfax, Palouse, Tekoa
- Adams
Flickr / afiler Giving Ratio: 4.71% / Total contributions in 2012: $4,778,000 / Median contribution: $4,948 Biggest cities: Othello, Ritzville
As a state, our Giving Ratio overall was 3.08% with a total contribution of nearly $5 billion! So, what are your thoughts? What’s your favorite way to give back to the community here in Washington?
Flickr / gmbernstein
Giving Ratio: 3.21% / Total contributions in 2012: $27,287,000 / Median contribution: $3,082 Biggest cities: Centralia, Chehalis, Napavine, Winlock, Toledo
Flickr / 99601495@N07
Giving Ratio: 3.21% / Total contributions in 2012: $45,280,000 / Median contribution: $3,085 Biggest cities: Oak Harbor, Langley, town of Coupeville
Flickr / fbohac
Giving Ratio: 3.22% / Total contributions in 2012: $8,312,000 / Median contribution: $3,843 Biggest cities: Omak, Okanogan, Oroville, Pateros, Tonasket, Brewster
Flickr / 18378305@N00
Giving Ratio: 3.23% / Total contributions in 2012: $2,222,948,000 / Median contribution: $3,194 Biggest cities: Seattle, Bellevue, Federal Way, Issaquah, Enumclaw, Snoqualmie, Redmond
City Data
Giving Ratio: 3.31% / Total contributions in 2012: $11,197,000 / Median contribution: $3,337 Biggest cities: Colville, Kettle Falls, Chewelah
Flickr / brewbooks
Giving Ratio: 3.44% / Total contributions in 2012: $28,232,000 / Median contribution: $3,324 Biggest cities: Port Angeles, Forks, Sequim
Flickr / bdewey
Giving Ratio 3.67% / Total contributions in 2012: $101,298,000 / Median contribution: $4,434 Biggest cities: Kennewick, Prosser, Benton City, Richland, West Richland
Flickr / onohiroki
Giving Ratio: 3.93% / Total contributions in 2012: $414,000 / Median contribution: $3,864 Biggest city: Pomeroy
Flickr / mytravelphotos
Giving Ratio: 4.02% / Total contributions in 2012: $1,300,000 / Median contribution: $4,107 Biggest communities: Republic, Curlew, Inchelium, Keller
Flickr / travelwitheric
Giving Ratio: 4.11% / Total contributions in 2012: $1,023,000 / Median contribution: $3,555 Biggest communities: Dayton, Starbuck
Flickr / jason_lacey
Giving Ratio: 4.12% / Total contributions in 2012: $29,196,000 / Median contribution: $4,373 Biggest cities: Walla Walla, Waitsburg, Prescott, College Place
Flickr / medhead
Giving Ratio: 4.33% / Total contributions in 2012: $22,681,000 / Median contribution: $3,206 Biggest community: Friday Harbor
Flickr / functoruser
Giving Ratio: 4.33% / Total contributions in 2012: $30,962,000 / Median contribution: $4,303 Biggest cities: Ephrata, Grand Coulee, Moses Lake, Quincy, Royal City, Mattawa, Soap Lake
Flickr / thestroms
Giving Ratio: 4.50% / Total contributions in 2012: $16,330,000 / Median contribution: $5,131 Biggest cities: Pullman, Colfax, Palouse, Tekoa
Flickr / afiler
Giving Ratio: 4.71% / Total contributions in 2012: $4,778,000 / Median contribution: $4,948 Biggest cities: Othello, Ritzville
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