Study: Pascack Valley Residents Donate Less Than Average American

Pascack Valley area residents contribute a similar amount of money to charitable causes as the average American but give a smaller percentage of their income, according to  a study published by The Chronicle of Philanthropy Monday.

In 2008, the most recent data available, the study found Washington Township residents contributed a total of $6.1 million, Hillsdale residents donated a total of $8 million and Westwood residents in the 07675 zip code gave $20.9 million to nonprofits and churches. Westwood and Woodcliff Lake residents in the shared 07677 zip code gave $11.4 million. 

Overall, Westwood, Washington Township and Hillsdale were ranked 1,475, 6,117 and 4,953, respectively, out of the 28,725 zip codes in the study.

The median income of Americans was $54,783 and they gave a median $2,564, about 4.7 percent of what they earned, after essential expenses. In Washington Township, the median income was $73,090 and residents gave a median $2,286, about 3.1 percent of their income.

Westwood and Hillsdale residents had similar results. The median income in Westwood was $73,287 and the median amount donated was $2,457, about 3.4 percent of their income. Hillsdale residents had a median income of $75,851 and gave a median of $2,458, totalling about 3.2 percent of their income. The county average was 4.6 percent of income donated.

The study also examined how religion and politics played into charitable contributions. Residents in Northeast states donated 4.1 percent of their income, while the South, which is generally more religious, donated 5.2 percent of their income. When donations to religious charities were not counted, the Northeast gave 1.4 percent of income and the South gave 0.9 percent. 

Politically conservative states also donated more than liberal states, according to the study. The eight states which donated the most also voted in favor of John McCain in the 2008 election. The seven states which donated the least all supported Barack Obama. New Jersey, which also went to Obama, was ninth from the bottom.

The study was done using IRS figures from 2008 and only included people with incomes of $50,000 or more "because of discrepancies in the data for people with income below $50,000," according to a report accompanying the study.

The percentage of income donated was measured without income used for "essential expenses" like taxes, food and food, according to the report. The cost of living in New Jersey is higher than the national average.

Do you think Pascack Valley residents are charitable? Do you always report donations on your taxes? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Jim Leggate at Jim.Leggate@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.