Middle Class Gives More To Charity Than The Rich [Study]

Attention middle class! Though you might be poorer than you’ve ever been according to a recent study, your karma is absolutely fantastic. A new study shows that the middle class are by far the most charitable givers even over the super rich of the country.

Though middle class families may not boast fancy cars or summer homes, they can be proud of the fact that they are the most charitable givers in the country, according to a new study by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. According to MSN, people who earn annual salaries between $50,000 and $75,000 gave away a good 7.6 percent of their discretionary income to charity compared to 4.2 percent donated by households making $100,000 or more.

Where you live affects your level of charity as well. CNBC points out that those highest on the economic chain living in affluent neighborhoods and pulling in well over $200,000 a year only give a pithy 2.8 percent in charitable donations each year. However, more affluent folks in mixed-income areas are more empathetic and give more.

Aside from income, the biggest difference seems to be religion. “Regions of the country that are deeply religious are more generous than those that are not,” the Chronicle said.

Another fun fact: Red states are more generous than blue states with little to no exception, so, even though the super-rich are being marketed as mean and selfish these days, that doesn’t really have much, if anything, to do with any political viewpoint as conservatives tend to out-give liberals.

Another interesting point: Though the richer you are, the less percentage of your income you’re willing to donate, the richest earners still give the greatest bottom-line contributions. According to The Economist, 2006 donations from earners making over $100,000 accounted for more than half of all donated money received by charities.

Do you give to charity?