State charitable giving information needed

[NewJeffCT]

Since I did not get a response in my other thread regarding this Foundation, I thought I'd start a separate thread, as my other one was not exactly about the Foundation.

But, can anybody give me info on the list of charitable giving from Catalogue of Philanthropy's 2004 Generosity Index that basically says that red states give more to charity than blue states. I suck at internet searching, as all I could find is that they are part of the Ellis L. Phillips Foundation. Is this some RW organization, or some place that only counts giving in church?

[papau]

1. If folks fund social programs through taxes -not church -they are cheap?

seems to be the implication.

also non-church giving does not count since non-church charity is likely to be supported by taxes.

So Arts giving (public plus private) by area might make an interesting blue/red state comparison.

[NewJeffCT]

2. thanks - just saw the actual index and it is flawed

It only takes into account itemized deductions. So, if a person in Mississippi makes $30,000 per year and donates $600 to charity, they can itemize it.

However, if a person in Connecticut makes $60,000 per year and donates $1,000 to charity, it does not hit the threshold for itemization.

[papau]

3. And if you need help - special needs child, disabled, etc - Conn might

be a better location than Mississippi

That old state spending on social services might be actually buying something useful to ones quality of life.

As I recall, Church lady handouts were as negative to the morale of the poor as the stares of the passerby at those in line at the welfare office.