2023 Geography of Giving:
Most charitable U.S. cities
Dropping a pin on the pulse of American philanthropy
How does someone’s location—where they work, live, and play—influence how they give to charity? And how have geographic giving trends shifted since the pre-pandemic period? Based on an analysis of Fidelity Charitable donors in our largest metro areas, the Geography of Giving report explores giving priorities and behaviors in 30 of the most charitable cities in the U.S.—and pinpoints how they’ve evolved since 2019. What emerges is a rich view of local philanthropic identities that might otherwise be overlooked in national surveys and reports. Dive in and explore the city-specific rankings, regional nuances, and trends that are shaping the American giving landscape.
Tour Fidelity Charitable’s top cities for giving
$1.3 billion
total grant dollars recommended to charity
New York City leads the nation in the total amount of grant dollars recommended to charity by Fidelity Charitable donors. The city also pulls in six top-10 rankings across the eight charitable sectors, while its donors grant more frequently than donors in any of the other top 30 cities for giving.
#1
in giving to International Affairs
One might guess that Washington, D.C.—the national hub for global policy and advocacy—would top the rankings in giving to International Affairs. And that guess would be correct. But the capital city isn’t one-dimensional in its giving, ranking in the top 10 across six of the eight charitable sectors.
$634 million
total grant dollars recommended to charity
Recommending a total of $634 million in grant dollars to charity—the fourth highest total in the U.S.—Fidelity Charitable donors in Chicago gave generously to a variety of causes in 2022. The city pulled in three top-10 sector rankings, demonstrating its greatest support for Human Services charities.
#1
in giving to Human Services
Cleveland was the top city for giving to Human Services—62% of donors in the metro area recommended grants to the sector. With an average of 13.1 grants per donor-advised fund, donors in this region also recommended grants at an 11% higher frequency than the national average.
#1
in giving to Religion
With 61% of donors in the metro area recommending grants to religious nonprofits, Indianapolis tops the rankings for giving to faith-based charities. The city also outpaces the national average for local charity support, with 51% of grant dollars sent to nonprofits in the Indianapolis region.
#1
ranking in giving to three charitable sectors
Boston sits most prominently in the charitable sector city rankings. It places among the top 10 in seven of the eight sectors, including three No. 1 rankings (Arts and Culture, Environment and Animals, and Health). Donors in the city granted more than $871 million to charity, the third largest amount in the country.
#2
in giving to Environment and Animals
One-third of Portland donors recommended a grant to charities like conservation organizations or animal shelters, making Portland the No. 2-ranked metro area for giving to the Environment and Animals sector. Donors in the area also granted frequently—22% more often than the national average.
$876 million
total grant dollars recommended to charity
San Francisco donors granted more than $876 million to charity, the second-highest total in the country. The Golden City appears frequently in the charitable sector rankings, notching top-10 spots in six of the eight sectors. These include a No. 2 ranking for Arts and Culture, plus dual No. 3 rankings for Education and Environment and Animals.
67%
increase in total grants since 2019
Grantmaking activity is on the rise in Seattle. Since 2019, there has been a 67% increase in the total number of grants recommended by donors—the highest growth rate of any of the 30 top cities for giving. Seattle also holds dual No. 4 rankings for giving to Arts and Culture and International Affairs.
MID-ATLANTIC
$1.3 billion
total grant dollars recommended to charity
New York City leads the nation in the total amount of grant dollars recommended to charity by Fidelity Charitable donors. The city also pulls in six top-10 rankings across the eight charitable sectors, while its donors grant more frequently than donors in any of the other top 30 cities for giving.
#1
in giving to International Affairs
One might guess that Washington, D.C.—the national hub for global policy and advocacy—would top the rankings in giving to International Affairs. And that guess would be correct. But the capital city isn’t one-dimensional in its giving, ranking in the top 10 across six of the eight charitable sectors.
MIDWEST
$634 million
total grant dollars recommended to charity
Recommending a total of $634 million in grant dollars to charity—the fourth highest total in the U.S.—Fidelity Charitable donors in Chicago gave generously to a variety of causes in 2022. The city pulled in three top-10 sector rankings, demonstrating its greatest support for Human Services charities.
#1
in giving to Human Services
Cleveland was the top city for giving to Human Services—62% of donors in the metro area recommended grants to the sector. With an average of 13.1 grants per donor-advised fund, donors in this region also recommended grants at an 11% higher frequency than the national average.
#1
in giving to Religion
With 61% of donors in the metro area recommending grants to religious nonprofits, Indianapolis tops the rankings for giving to faith-based charities. The city also outpaces the national average for local charity support, with 51% of grant dollars sent to nonprofits in the Indianapolis region.
NORTHEAST
#1
ranking in giving to three charitable sectors
Boston sits most prominently in the charitable sector city rankings. It places among the top 10 in seven of the eight sectors, including three No. 1 rankings (Arts and Culture, Environment and Animals, and Health). Donors in the city granted more than $871 million to charity, the third largest amount in the country.
PACIFIC
#2
in giving to Environment and Animals
One-third of Portland donors recommended a grant to charities like conservation organizations or animal shelters, making Portland the No. 2-ranked metro area for giving to the Environment and Animals sector. Donors in the area also granted frequently—22% more often than the national average.
$876 million
total grant dollars recommended to charity
San Francisco donors granted more than $876 million to charity, the second-highest total in the country. The Golden City appears frequently in the charitable sector rankings, notching top-10 spots in six of the eight sectors. These include a No. 2 ranking for Arts and Culture, plus dual No. 3 rankings for Education and Environment and Animals.
67%
increase in total grants since 2019
Grantmaking activity is on the rise in Seattle. Since 2019, there has been a 67% increase in the total number of grants recommended by donors—the highest growth rate of any of the 30 top cities for giving. Seattle also holds dual No. 4 rankings for giving to Arts and Culture and International Affairs.
#2
in giving to local charities
Donors in Salt Lake City were the second-most active in the country in terms of supporting nonprofits in their local region—with 64% of grant dollars sent to charities in the metro area. The city ranked in the top 10 for giving to Religion, as 55% of its donors recommended grants to faith-based nonprofits.
57%
of grant dollars sent to local nonprofits
By recommending more than half of donor-advised fund grant dollars to nonprofits in the metro area, Charlotte donors earned the Queen City the No. 8 ranking for local charity support. The city also ranked No. 7 in giving to Religion and No. 10 in giving to Health.
67%
growth in total grants recommended
Grantmaking activity is on the rise in Raleigh as the number of grants recommended by donors in 2022 was more than two-thirds higher than in 2019—the second-highest granting growth rate in the nation. Among the city’s most popular charities are Human Services nonprofits focused on hunger.
#6
in giving to local charities
Fifty-eight percent of donors in Dallas recommended a grant to support charities in their own backyard, making the city No. 6 on the list for local charity support. Dallas also ranked No. 6 in giving to the Religion sector, with 59% of donors in the metro area making grant recommendations for faith-based charities.
54%
increase in grants since 2019
The total number of grants recommended to charity by Phoenix donors increased by 54% since 2019, outpacing the national granting growth rate by 8%. Religious nonprofits were among donors’ favorites, accounting for four of the top 10 most popular charities in the metro area.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
#2
in giving to local charities
Donors in Salt Lake City were the second-most active in the country in terms of supporting nonprofits in their local region—with 64% of grant dollars sent to charities in the metro area. The city ranked in the top 10 for giving to Religion, as 55% of its donors recommended grants to faith-based nonprofits.
SOUTHEAST
57%
of grant dollars sent to local nonprofits
By recommending more than half of donor-advised fund grant dollars to nonprofits in the metro area, Charlotte donors earned the Queen City the No. 8 ranking for local charity support. The city also ranked No. 7 in giving to Religion and No. 10 in giving to Health.
67%
growth in total grants recommended
Grantmaking activity is on the rise in Raleigh as the number of grants recommended by donors in 2022 was more than two-thirds higher than in 2019—the second-highest granting growth rate in the nation. Among the city’s most popular charities are Human Services nonprofits focused on hunger.
SOUTHWEST
#6
in giving to local charities
Fifty-eight percent of donors in Dallas recommended a grant to support charities in their own backyard, making the city No. 6 on the list for local charity support. Dallas also ranked No. 6 in giving to the Religion sector, with 59% of donors in the metro area making grant recommendations for faith-based charities.
54%
increase in grants since 2019
The total number of grants recommended to charity by Phoenix donors increased by 54% since 2019, outpacing the national granting growth rate by 8%. Religious nonprofits were among donors’ favorites, accounting for four of the top 10 most popular charities in the metro area.
Human Services replaced Religion as the most commonly supported cause area in the majority of top 30 cities
Additional insights
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