The US tied with Switzerland for fifth place.
In the US:
• 60 percent donate to organizations.
• 39 percent volunteer at organizations.
• 65 percent help a stranger.
Looking at the region more broadly, the poll ranks older North Americans as more likely to donate than young North Americans. Some 76 percent of North Americans over 50 volunteered in the past month, whereas only 34 percent of 15- to 24-year-olds volunteered.
“When it comes to philanthropy, Americans do a lot but they can always do more,” said Janet Boyd, president of Charities Aid Foundation America (CAFAmerica), which released the Gallup poll. She said on a conference call with reporters that the US ranking could improve with companies engaging their workers and getting the younger population more involved.
US philanthropy declined by 4.8 percent this year due to the economic recession, added Susan Saxon-Harrold, CAFAmerica CEO. She also stated that 48 percent of Americans donated to religious organizations.
