2025
Geography
of Giving
A data-driven look at U.S. giving
Giving is part of the fabric of communities across the United States. But while generosity is universal, how and where people give varies considerably based on location, with residents of different cities supporting notably different cause areas. This report explores how geography shapes American philanthropy, comparing geographic trends at key benchmarks from pre-pandemic, in 2022, and in 2024.
Explore some of our top cities for giving
MID-ATLANTIC
Washington D.C.
AVERAGE GRANT
$1,715.38
TOTAL GRANT
$255,428,895
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
41%
TOP SECTOR
Human Services
NUMBER OF DAFs
22,302
MIDWEST
Chicago
AVERAGE GRANT
$5,144
TOTAL GRANT
$365,011,424
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
55%
TOP SECTOR
Human Services
NUMBER OF DAFs
23,738
Indianapolis
AVERAGE GRANT
$2,545.81
TOTAL GRANT
$56,081,686
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
57%
TOP SECTOR
Religion
NUMBER OF DAFs
5,197
St. Louis
AVERAGE GRANT
$4,670.76
TOTAL GRANT
$101,856,059
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
80%
TOP SECTOR
Religion
NUMBER OF DAFs
5,982
NORTHEAST
Boston
AVERAGE GRANT
$13,516.12
TOTAL GRANT
$1,095,463,076
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
47%
TOP SECTOR
Education
NUMBER OF DAFs
54,571
Bridgeport
AVERAGE GRANT
$1,694.08
TOTAL GRANT
$287,448,248
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
15%
TOP SECTOR
Education
NUMBER OF DAFs
7,870
PACIFIC
Los Angeles
AVERAGE GRANT
$13,007.36
TOTAL GRANT
$548,068,355
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
40%
TOP SECTOR
Human Services
NUMBER OF DAFs
20,208
San Francisco
AVERAGE GRANT
$16,829.89
TOTAL GRANT
$1,130,692,637
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
40%
TOP SECTOR
Education
NUMBER OF DAFs
25,128
Seattle
AVERAGE GRANT
$32,620.32
TOTAL GRANT
$655,452,567
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
17%
TOP SECTOR
Human Services
NUMBER OF DAFs
19,198
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Denver
AVERAGE GRANT
$5,113.27
TOTAL GRANT
$94,878,068
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
41%
TOP SECTOR
Human Services
NUMBER OF DAFs
7,754
Salt Lake City
AVERAGE GRANT
$6,429.91
TOTAL GRANT
$85,783,383
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
64%
TOP SECTOR
Religion
NUMBER OF DAFs
4,283
SOUTHEAST
Atlanta
AVERAGE GRANT
$5,831.19
TOTAL GRANT
$178,813,149
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
58%
TOP SECTOR
Religion
NUMBER OF DAFs
11,864
Durham
AVERAGE GRANT
$2,717.89
TOTAL GRANT
$27,465,145
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
38%
TOP SECTOR
Human Services
NUMBER OF DAFs
4,575
Raleigh
AVERAGE GRANT
$2,312.73
TOTAL GRANT
$146,718,460
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
54%
TOP SECTOR
Religion
NUMBER OF DAFs
5,495
SOUTHWEST
Dallas
AVERAGE GRANT
$7,247.23
TOTAL GRANT
$230,150,469
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
56%
TOP SECTOR
Religion
NUMBER OF DAFs
13,488
Houston
AVERAGE GRANT
$7,632.86
TOTAL GRANT
$240,600,551
% TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
41%
TOP SECTOR
Religion
NUMBER OF DAFs
13,883
Additional insights
Who we are
Fidelity Charitable is an independent public charity that offers one of the nation’s largest donor-advised fund programs, making charitable giving accessible, simple, and effective.
What is a donor-advised fund?
A donor-advised fund is a simple, flexible, and tax-efficient way to give to your favorite charities, while potentially growing your donations over time.