Volunteering Study: Best And Worst Cities At Giving Back (SLIDESHOW)

When it comes to the top altruistic metro areas, Twin Cities residents uphold their reputation of "Minnesota nice," whereas people in Miami appear to be too busy at the beach.

Volunteering in America released a report this week of volunteer rates in top cities nationwide from 2008 to 2010.

Overall, the number of volunteers dropped last year by half a percentage point, to 26.3 percent, the report said.

Robert Velasco, acting CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, tells USA Today that it's nothing to worry about.

"It's a very small dip and one year's data is not representative of a trend," he said.

Besides reporting the number of people giving back, the study explored possible explanations for a city's volunteer rate by examining factors such as education, poverty and foreclosure numbers.

See the full ranking at Volunteering in America, and check for your state in the slideshow below.

SLIDESHOW: Best And Worst States At Volunteering

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#1. Twin Cities

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With the government shutdown and the state's polarizing political candidates, the headlines about Minnesota have been anything but positive. But its residents still maintain their legendary reputation as being "Minnesota nice." The Minneapolis-St. Paul area had a volunteer rate of 37.1 percent, earning the No. 1 spot. Giving back has long been tied to an attachment to one's community, indicated by home ownership, the study says. A whopping 72.4 percent of Twin Cities residents own their home, compared to the 65.9 percent nationwide rate. In addition, the city has more nonprofits than other metros, making volunteering opportunities easier to come by.

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With the government shutdown and the state's polarizing political candidates, the headlines about Minnesota have been anything but positive. But its residents still maintain their legendary reputation as being "Minnesota nice." The Minneapolis-St. Paul area had a volunteer rate of 37.1 percent, earning the No. 1 spot. Giving back has long been tied to an attachment to one's community, indicated by home ownership, the study says. A whopping 72.4 percent of Twin Cities residents own their home, compared to the 65.9 percent nationwide rate. In addition, the city has more nonprofits than other metros, making volunteering opportunities easier to come by.

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Not surprised! City pride!

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Comments

[Good Days]

02:56 PM on 09/14/2011

Where ever your city is on the list, Good Days from Chronic Disease Fund wants you! Helping those in need is such a rewarding experience. Good Days from Chronic Disease Fund needs awesome and enthusiastic volunteers to support chronic disease patients. Visit our website to learn more about our volunteer opportunities! http://www.gooddaysfromcdf.org/

[baxtron]

11:13 AM on 08/18/2011

MN is desperately trying to hold onto small town feel even if it isn't not sure if that contributes to volunteering.

[DanSc]

01:39 PM on 08/17/2011

It's not worth it if I have to live in Whitopia

[1jdgriff]

08:09 PM on 08/16/2011

I'm not at all surprised that the Pacific Northwest rated so high.

[Good Days]

01:06 PM on 08/15/2011

If you are looking to help those in need, Good Days from Chronic Disease has a ton of volunteer opportunities. Help us help chronic disease sufferers! http://www.gooddaysfromcdf.org/

[msm0207]

01:46 AM on 08/14/2011

Corporations from MN encourage their employees to get involved. Once exposed, they like it. For those of us who are too old and infirm a check will have to do.

[Miataboy]

11:36 PM on 08/13/2011

It's interesting that none of these cities are south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

[mamagypsy]

10:18 AM on 08/14/2011

Seems that way doesn't it?

[Whistlejackett]

10:37 PM on 08/13/2011

Hey HP let's go global. I am waiting.

[aearthling59]

08:30 PM on 08/13/2011

I stopped volunteering and giving to charities when I discovered that I was helping someone who was illegal. I decided if I wanted to help foreigners I would go to their country but there was no way I would help anyone breaking the laws of my country.

[seattleite4]

11:26 PM on 08/13/2011

So you stopped giving to everyone because you didn't want an illegal to get help? You could give to Feedingamerica.org --they give 96% of every dollar.

[aearthling59]

10:42 AM on 08/14/2011

do they screen? Until the craziness in this country stops I'll just help local schools with my time but no more money.

[mamagypsy]

06:09 PM on 08/13/2011

the skyline in Columbus Ohio, is getting bigger, more High-rises and our mayor is working to clean up our nieghborhoods

[mamagypsy]

06:06 PM on 08/13/2011

Ohioans, also volunteer a lot!

[mtmist3383]

08:33 PM on 08/13/2011

Yes, we do!

[rwilli1972]

09:36 PM on 08/22/2011

It's great to see individuals volunteer. Their contributions can be priceless. http://www.perspectivestv.com

[americanalien]

03:09 AM on 08/13/2011

As a New Yorker, I would like to volunteer but life is way too busy and hectic in the big apple to find time for that. Also many people work two jobs here.

[Dean2722]

09:37 PM on 08/13/2011

To americanalien: From another New Yorker ... I live in Manhattan, and I always have. Working two jobs is today's normal. Of course New York is hectic -- what did you expect? You can carve an hour or two in your week to help those who need you.

[Lollipop10]

09:51 PM on 08/13/2011

WE DO THE THING WE WANT TO DO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bjbold]

06:26 PM on 08/12/2011

I live just west of Minneapolis. Nice bit about Minnesota nice. HOWEVER, this is likely the ugliest skyline in the world! We used to have good looking architecture here until the 1980's. So sad.

[americanalien]

03:02 AM on 08/13/2011

Actually I found the Minneapolis skyline in the picture to be very beautiful. It has a clean and modern look to it. Rather refreshing I would say.

[sandman7733]

04:50 PM on 08/13/2011

Hardly the worst. I may be biased having lived in the Twin Cities for over 40 years, but I have seen much, much worse.

[eyelashviper]

02:51 PM on 08/12/2011

Not surprised at Miami, lived in the area for many years, and can profess that it is a culture of self-absorption and superficiality, with more fake Louis Vuitton bags per square mile than anywhere else on the planet.

[americanalien]

03:05 AM on 08/13/2011

All of Florida is like that. Everything seems fake and manufactured down there. I could never live there. The stifling heat and humidity doesn't help either.

[eyelashviper]

12:08 PM on 08/13/2011

There are many areas in Florida that are very laid back, civilized, and nice places to live....I tend to keep them quiet, as to keep out the riff raff...

[John Crane]

02:33 PM on 08/11/2011

I despise the term "giving back". It originated in the 60's and seems to imply that you took something to which you were not entitled, or took something unjustly, and now you have to "give it back".

[LiveMind]

08:55 PM on 08/11/2011

We are all here based on the work and kindness of other people. It's not about entitlement and never was or will be-- you didn't "earn" your life-- you no doubt contributed a large part, but without the help of others and a heft amount of luck, you would be in a very different position. You didn't give birth to yourself, feed and house and care for yourself though your childhood, raise or educate yourself in your childhood. you could have been an orphan born into a war-torn ravaged 3rd world country, and where and what would you be now?

So yes, "giving back" is an appropriate phrase.

[Lollipop10]

09:54 PM on 08/13/2011

GIVE ME A BREAK !!!!!!!!!!

[baxtron]

11:14 AM on 08/18/2011

fanned.

[JoeWolfe]

12:13 AM on 09/06/2011

I truly love the term and the concept and try to practice it every day in my life - both in terms of donating money and in terms of donating time and enthusiasm to certain projects I care about. I know that luck is a big part of why I'm successful and also the advice and help from family and friends. It makes sense that I would want to pass this on to others. It also lifts your spirits to do so in a way that nothing else can and I think it is the only exception to "money can't buy happiness!" Giving back has actually made me more successful as well:

http://how-to-make-money-with-penny-stocks.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-i-love-penny-stocks-so-much.html

http://how-to-make-money-with-penny-stocks.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-giving-back-helps-you-make-more.html

John, I do want to ask you too - regardless of how you feel about the term, do you find ways to give back?

Joe