Red States More Charitable?

According to this, the Red States appear to be more charitable than the Blue States.

Interesting.

It is a very bizarre table at the link. And it doesn't at all reveal what it appears to.

The "Rank Relation" is misleading.

The "Having Rank" refers to ranking of the Average Adjusted Gross Income. That's a pretty good indicator of wealth.

But the giving rank is a "ranking of the average donations." So, if ten gifts are given in a state, and the average of those gifts are the highest, that state ranks highest in giving rank. Anybody notice that Wyoming ranks the highest in giving rank? Wyoming, in fact, isn't.

To get a more accurate representation of generosity, you'd need to figure in population and number of philanthropic persons, what their average giving was, etc.

There are some better data tables out there, at the Chronicle of Philanthropy. But they require a login.

And guess what? It ain't the Red States...