Giving May Be Up Nationally, But It's Down in This Wealthy Region

Charitable giving may be up nationally, according to new data released last week, but it's a different story in Southern California.

The ground is shaking beneath 35,000-plus charities based in Los Angeles County, and it’s not because of the San Andreas Fault this time. Angelenos are giving $1 billion less per year—almost all of it locally—which is perplexing because they claim to care about solving the problems in their communities.

The disconnect sets up a new published report, “The Generosity Gap: Donating Less in Post-Recession Los Angeles County,” from UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs.