Date of Graduation

5-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Sociology (MA)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Sociology and Criminal Justice

Advisor/Mentor

Fitzpatrick, Kevin M.

Committee Member

Morimoto, Shauna A.

Second Committee Member

Zajicek, Anna M.

Keywords

Charitable giving; Community; Nonprofits; Philanthropy; Place; Socio-spatial

Abstract

There is little doubt that most American cities are currently troubled places because of massive economic shifts that have marked the last two decades. Charitable giving has consistently been seen as the lifeblood of communities around the United States (Backman and Smith 2000). The primary purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between community composition and charitable giving. The impact of community characteristics (community composition, organizational composition, and community deterioration) on charitable revenues will be assessed using revenue data from the 2006-2007, 501(c)(3), 990, charitable organization forms along with United States county census data. One-way ANOVA and regression analysis examine the independent community composition variables as well as each block of variables and their relationships to the level of charitable revenue. Findings suggest there are important philanthropic differences across regions. In addition, independent community characteristics as well as the aggregate block compositions have significant impacts on county-level charitable revenue.

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