American Jews and charitable giving: An enduring tradition

THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
By Hanna Shaul Bar Nissum, Brandies University

Even though only about one in 50 Americans is Jewish, U.S. Jews donate at high levels, both as individuals and as a community. Most Jews, regardless of their economic status, heed their religious and cultural obligations to give. In fact, 60 percent of Jewish households earning less than US$50,000 a year donate, compared with 46 percent of non-Jewish households in that income bracket. Interestingly, the same study also found that Jews, black Protestants, Evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants and Roman Catholics give at similar levels to congregations and to other causes. However, Jews give relatively less to congregations and more to other causes. Two explanations involve education and wealth, traits strongly correlated with philanthropy. The Jewish community is among the nation’s most educated and wealthy demographic groups. [More]