The Chronicle of Philanthropy has ranked Maine second-to-last in its list of the most charitable states in the country.
The ranking, which includes 50 states and Puerto Rico, indicated that Maine contributed an average of 2.8% of the state’s income to charitable causes, based on IRS data from taxpayers who earned more than $50,000 and itemized their 2008 returns.
That diverges from a national average of 4.7%.
But observers in Maine told the Bangor Daily News that the data is limited as 70% of Maine residents don’t itemize their taxes.
Rick Vail, CEO of Mechanics Savings Bank in Auburn and chairman of the Central Maine Community College Foundation, also told the paper that the data leaves out wealthy retirees or second-home owners who may donate to Maine causes but claim residency elsewhere. Harold Alfond, for example, was a Florida resident at the time of his death.
