Community Corner

How Charitable Are Brick Residents?

New study shows how much township residents pony up

Statistically speaking, Brick residents are pretty darn generous. But on average, township residents gave away less of their income to charity than their counterparts across the county, state and nation.

The township ranked 4,441 out of 28,725 American towns studied as part of an analysis released Monday by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

The data, analyzed from figures in 2008, showed Brick residents donated $9.1 million to charitable causes, with the median family donating 2.9 percent of their income. The average family donated $1,458.

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The study showed a township family had just over $50,000 in discretionary annual income.

But despite the relatively high dollar figure compared to cross-country averages, Brick residents donated less percentage-wise than the national average, which was 4.7 percent.

Find out what's happening in Brickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Overall, as residents' income levels increased, the percentage of that income that was given away decreased. The most charitable individuals and families were those making between $50,000 and $99,999. They donated an average of 3.8 percent of their income to charity. Those making between $100,000 to $199,999 donated 2.4 percent, and those making $200,000 or more donated 1.4 percent.

As a whole, Ocean County residents donated an average of 4.2 percent of their income to charity, while New Jersey residents donated 3.7 percent.

The study was based on Internal Revenue Service records of Americans who itemized deductions in 2008.

More on the study can be found at the Journal of Philanthropy's "How America Gives" website.


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