California Ranks Last in Charitable Giving Freedom Index

The Philanthropy Roundtable ranked California last among all 50 U.S. states in an index measuring the freedom to give to charity. Despite having the highest number of billionaires in the country, California received a score of 2.73 out of 10. The organization cited high regulatory burdens on charities, steep registration fees, and weak legal protections for donor intent as the primary causes for the low ranking.

Montana ranked first in the index with a score of 8 out of 10. The report found that the bottom five states, which include California, New Jersey, Washington, Connecticut, and Illinois, have significantly fewer charities per billion dollars of GDP compared to the top five states.

While high-net-worth donors such as Mark Zuckerberg and MacKenzie Scott continue to contribute billions within California, the report suggests that the state's administrative requirements disproportionately hinder smaller nonprofits. These organizations often lack the resources necessary to maintain compliance with state regulations.