75% of Arizonans Give to Charity

Three out of four Arizona residents donate to charity, according to a new survey published by the Arizona Community Foundation. The national average is 70.1 per cent as reported by Independent Sector, a coalition of charities and foundations (The Chronicle, October 21).

The survey of 500 adult Arizonans also found that among those who gave to charity in 1998, the average total amount of gifts was $2,041, nearly $1,000 more than the national average of $1,075. Among all Arizona households, gifts totaled $1,539 on average, compared with $753 among all U.S. households.

The survey was an attempt to measure the state of philanthropy in Arizona as part of an effort to foster more giving, said James Gottry, a spokesman for the foundation.

“We want to encourage citizens to do better, to continue to improve, which is hard to do without a benchmark,” Mr. Gottry said.

Among the survey’s other findings:

* A third of Arizonans also volunteered their time to charitable organizations in 1998.

* Seventy per cent of those surveyed said they give chiefly because they believe that their donations are put to good use and that it is in their power to improve the welfare of others. Only 26 per cent cited tax incentives as an important reason to give.

For more information, or for a free copy of 1999 Philanthropy Study for Arizona, contact the Arizona Community Foundation, 2122 East Highland Avenue, Suite 400, Phoenix 85016; (602) 381-1400.