Idaho named one of most helpful states in the nation. Here’s how much we give
Idaho is one of the nation’s most helpful states.
That’s according to a new study by My Counselor, an online Christian counseling service.
The site went in search of the places “where kindness and helpfulness are most deeply rooted,” based on charitable giving, volunteering rates, tipping habits and other factors.
“In many parts of the country, everyday generosity is quietly alive and well,” My Counselor said in a Jan. 9 news release.
Idaho was among the top 10 states “where Americans are most likely to help you out,” according to the study.
Here’s where it ranked and why:
How helpful are Idaho residents?
Idaho was No. 9 on My Counselor’s list of the most helpful states in the nation, trailing after Oregon and Delaware..
Idaho had “one of the highest shares of income donated in the top 10, placing sixth nationally,” the release said. “The data suggests Idaho’s generosity often takes the form of financial giving, paired with steady but quieter community involvement.”
The Gem State’s generosity is supported by above-average volunteer rates and neighborliness, according to My Counselor.
How much does Idaho give?
Idaho residents had a generously record-breaking year in 2025, according to Autumn Kersey-Camilovic, marketing and communications manager for the Idaho Community Foundation.
Idaho Gives, an annual program ran by the Idaho Community Foundation, raised more than $5.15 million in 2025, with funds “shared among 627 participating nonprofit organizations across the state,” Kersey-Camilovic said.
There was a total of 23,413 donations made during the 2025 Idaho Gives fundraiser and a total of 13,791 donors, according to Kersey-Camilovic. Average online donations were about $118 each.
“In 2025, organizations focused on animal welfare, food security and human rights saw especially strong engagement,” Kersey-Camilovic told the Idaho Statesman.
The next Idaho Gives runs Monday, May 4, through Thursday, May 7, according to the fundraiser’s website.
“Idaho Gives is truly powered by thousands of every day Idahoans giving what they can, small actions that add up to meaningful statewide impact,” Kersey-Camilovic said. “It’s a statewide moment that highlights how deeply nonprofits are woven into Idaho’s quality of life.”
Treasure Valley residents are stepping in to help in unique ways.
In 2025, Dr. Stuart Clive donated a year’s salary to the Cure Blindness Project in his final act of generosity before retiring from Weiser Memorial Hospital, the Statesman previously reported.
When the West Ada School District told a Meridian teacher to remove a sign from her classroom reading “Everyone Is Welcome Here,” Brigade Screen Printing in Boise showed its support by making T-shirts emblazoned with the message.
Business owner Shawn Wright and his eight-member staff received more than 15,000 orders for the shirts, inspiring volunteers to help fill them.
2026 is ‘year of volunteerism’ in Idaho
The “quieter” volunteering that supports Idaho’s rank as a helpful state may get louder in 2026.
According to the Idaho State Treasurer, 2026 is Idaho’s Year of Volunteerism.
According to the website, Idaho will be joining the America250 initiative to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary of its independence.
“The goal is for Idahoans to collectively perform 250,000 acts of service between January and July 4, 2026,” the website said.
What states were the most helpful?
These were the 10 most helpful states in the United States, according to My Counselor:
- 1. Utah
- 2. Montana
- 3. Minnesota
- 4. Nebraska
- 5. Colorado
- 6. Vermont
- 7. Delaware
- 8. Oregon
- 9. Idaho
- 10. Iowa
How did study measure helpfulness?
To determine the U.S. states where Americans help out the most, My Counselor collected data from every state in six different categories:
- Volunteer rate
- Charitable giving rate
- Amount of donated income
- Number of neighborly residents
- Average kindness-related Yelp reviews across major venues
- Average tipping rate
“Kindness in America doesn’t always announce itself,” the release said. “Sometimes it looks like a neighbor shoveling your sidewalk before you wake up, a volunteer staying late at a food bank or a server surprised by a generous tip after a long shift.”
Each state was scored out of 100 points and categories were equally weighted.
Data for the study was gathered from USAFacts, AmeriCorps Civic Engagement and Volunteering Dashboard, Yelp, LendingTree and CNN Money
This story was originally published February 13, 2026 at 4:00 AM.
