Utah Ranks First in Most Charitable States

WalletHub's annual study grades states on volunteering, neighborly favors, and charitable giving, placing Utah at the top.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Philanthropy

Isometric editorial illustration of stepped wooden crates with wheat sheaves and loose coins, representing a state-by-state civic giving ranking. — WalletHub's annual study ranked Utah first among the most charitable states, ahead of Wyoming and Minnesota, with New Mexico placing 50th. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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WalletHub released its annual Most Charitable States study, ranking Utah first. The ranking combines scores from the Volunteering and Service and Charitable Giving categories.

Why it matters

The study measures how residents give time and money to their communities, offering a comparison of civic engagement across states. For Utah readers, the ranking highlights how local volunteering and giving compare with the rest of the country.

Utah's volunteer rate is roughly 47 percent, with residents volunteering over 45 hours per capita, according to WalletHub's graded categories. The study does not detail the exact weighting used to combine volunteering and giving into the final ranking.

The players

WalletHub

WalletHub is a personal finance website that publishes annual consumer rankings and comparison studies covering topics such as states, taxes and credit.

The details

WalletHub graded each state on volunteer rate, neighborly favors, and the share of income donated, then combined the Volunteering and Service and Charitable Giving categories into the ranking. Utah placed first, ahead of Wyoming in second and Minnesota in third, while New Mexico ranked 50th.

November 14, 2026: WalletHub published its annual Most Charitable States study.

Philanthropy Trends

WalletHub's annual Most Charitable States study has been published each year to compare how residents of each state volunteer and give to charity. This edition's first-place finish for Utah extends that yearly comparison of state-level civic and charitable activity.

Residents interested in volunteering or charitable giving can use the study's categories, such as volunteer rate and share of income donated, as a benchmark for their own community involvement. The ranking itself does not change any programs, tax rules or donation options available to Utahns.

The takeaway

Giving time and money is measured in the study through volunteer hours and the share of income donated, so small, regular contributions count toward a state's ranking. Checking local volunteer opportunities is a practical first step for anyone looking to get involved.