Nevada has highest donation rate increase in U.S. after recession

The holiday season, that jovial period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, is a time usually designated for turkeys, sweatpants and charitable donations.

Despite the economic crisis Nevada had to deal with following the recession of 2008, the Silver State managed to increase charitable donations more than any other state in the country.

Lights are twinkling, stores are buzzing and that giving spirit is more present than ever.

So, what has caused the donation spike? Tax season? Goodwill toward men?

“New IRS data shows that even though the recession hit Americans hard, they actually dug deeper and gave more during the downturn,” Plenty Consulting reports.

Between 2006 and 2012, Nevada’s “giving ratio” increased 12.6 percent, a calculation of the percentage of adjusted income donated to charity as reported on tax forms, according to the IRS report.

Nevada saw the steepest decline in median household income, falling 20.5 percent and yet, the report found that the “Battle Born” ones were also the most charitable in the country.

Here are the top 10 states with the highest change in giving:

1. Nevada

2. Idaho

3. Georgia

4. Connecticut

5. Florida

6. Indiana

7. Kansas

8. Alabama

9. New Mexico

10. Arizona

Contact Ashley Casper at acasper@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @TheCasperA