Jay Evensen
  • Front Page
  • Opinions
  • Second Thoughts
  • Portfolio
  • Awards
  • About

Utah and Mormons — leading America in charitable giving

8/20/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Spires of the Mormon Temple reflected in a nearby building.
The spin being cast around the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s latest study on charitable giving is enough to make anyone dizzy.

No one likes to be told he or she is selfish, especially in a bad economy. And when facts get in the way of political agendas, well, that can really screw up someone’s day.

Actually, the study held few surprises for people who keep track of such things. People in parts of the country in which a greater concentration of religious folks live give much more than those in parts where people are less religious. Conservative states give more than liberal ones.

And finally, poor people give more generously than the rich. Households pulling in $50,000 to $75,000 gave an average of 7.6 percent of their discretionary income nationwide, compared with only 4.2 percent on average for those making $100,000 or more.

This is interesting stuff, but the angle a lot folks are missing has to do with the major outlier among the 50 states — Utah.

In the Beehive State, residents were found to have given 10.6 percent of their discretionary income to charity. Mississippi was way behind in second place with 7.2 percent.

While wealthy people in Utah still give less than those of modest means, the differences are not as stark. In Utah, people earning $200,000 and more gave 8.8 percent, compared with 11.6 percent for those in the $50,000 to $99,999 range.

Yes, most of that money likely goes to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some reporting in recent weeks has been critical of the church for how it uses its funds, but charity comes in many forms, including spiritual. The Mormon Church relies mostly on volunteer leadership, so salaries are not a big factor.

The church's charity for the poor goes to non-Mormons as well as church members.

And if you know anything about church members (I am one), you understand that many of them give much more in personal service and time than they would ever claim on a tax form.

With so much attention on the church right now because of Mitt Romney’s campaign, this is a relevant topic. Contrary to how it is often portrayed, church contributions are voluntary — no one compares donations to earnings or attempts to enforce tithing. Church members are asked at the end of the year to meet with their bishop and declare whether their donations constitute a full tithe.

If they don’t want to have this meeting, that is their choice.

In Utah, it’s hard to tell whether a Republican-Democrat divide exists. Salt Lake City residents, who tend to be Democrats and non-Mormon, gave at an 8 percent clip.

I'm guessing most charitable people would rather not call attention to their giving. But if the nation is intent on studying Mormons and how they live, this is an aspect that ought to be included.

As for that spin — well, conservatives and religious folks nationwide seem to be saying they walk the walk, while liberals talk about the needs of the poor but are in reality stone-hearted.

Liberals, on the other hand, say the difference lies in basic philosophies. They say they are willing to pay higher taxes so the government can conduct charity more effectively.

Those arguments aren’t heard much in Utah.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Search this site


    Like what you read here?

      Please subscribe below, and we'll let you know when there is a new opinion.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Picture

    The author

    Jay Evensen is the Senior Editorial Columnist of the Deseret News. He has nearly 40 years experience as a reporter, editor and editorial writer in Oklahoma, New York City, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. He also has been an adjunct journalism professor at Brigham Young and Weber State universities.

    Archives

    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Campaign 2012
    Congress
    Crime
    Culture
    Iran
    Oil And Gas
    Poverty
    Steroids
    Taxes
    Utah
    Washington
    World Events
    World Events

    Links

    Deseret News
    Newslink
    Marianne Evensen's blog

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.