Maryland, Baltimore Rank in Top States, Cities for Volunteering

1.7 Million Marylanders Volunteer in their Communities, $4.3 Billion Value

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland ranks 4th among the most charitable states in the country, according to a report released by Wallet Hub this week, and 14th in the nation for volunteering, based on a report released earlier this month by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), a federal agency that administers funds for community service programs in Maryland through the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism. Baltimore ranked 10th among metropolitan areas for volunteering.

“These reports affirm what we as Marylanders know to be true of our people – we truly have a giving nature,” said Van Brooks, director of the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism. “We hope these results show Marylanders that their individual acts of service make a difference. We are consistently impressed by the state and our people, and hope this encourages more people to give back.”

The CNCS report, Volunteering in America, gauges data on factors including participation in local organizations, helping neighbors, and charity to rank states and major metropolitan areas. Among notable findings, more than 1.7 million Marylanders – around 36% of the state population – gave their time to volunteering in the community in 2017, together contributing more than 180 million hours of service to making a difference. The estimated economic value of this service is more than $4.3 billion, according to the report. In addition, approximately 50% of Marylanders donate $25 or more to charity, a positive finding in light of #GivingTuesday, an annual day of charitable giving which occurred earlier this week.

The Baltimore area – which includes Towson and Columbia – ranked in the top 10 of major metropolitan areas with 37.6% of residents volunteering in their community and contributing more than 125 million hours of service – a $3 million value. Approximately 70% of Baltimore area residents also donate $25 or more to charity.

The report from Wallet Hub ranks states by evaluating scores across 18 measures of charitable behavior. Maryland ranks high among states in other measures as well, including the most residents who donated to charity. Averaging all measures, Maryland achieved a top 5 spot.

Earlier this year, Maryland was announced as the 10th state and Baltimore the #1 city for producing the most AmeriCorps members per capita. AmeriCorps, a national program administered by the CNCS, recruits individuals who commit up to one year of service to support the mission of local organizations and improve Maryland communities.The Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism this summer awarded $4.6 million in grants for 21 AmeriCorps programs, which coordinate community service and volunteers across Maryland.