Study: Manasquan, Belmar Less Charitable Than Neighbors

While Manasquan and Belmar households gave nearly $20 million to charity in 2008, on average they are less philanthropic than their counterparts in the rest of Monmouth County, the state of New Jersey, and the entire United States, a recent analysis says.  

Manasquan households gave an average of 3.3 percent of their discretionary income to charity, and Belmar households gave an average of 3.4 percent, according to figures released this week by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. 

Those figures, however, fall short when compared with the county (4.2 percent), state (3.7 percent) and national (4.7 percent) averages. 

When compared to whole dollar amounts, Belmar still was below the averages, while Manasquan exceeded all but the national average. 

In 2008, the year analyzed in the study, Belmar households gave a total of $10.6 million to charitable causes, and the median contribution from each household was $2027.

Manasquan households gave slightly less with a total of $9.3 million, but had a higher median contribution of $2305. 

Compared to the averages from the county ($2253), state ($2181) and U.S. ($2564) totals, Manasquan, from a whole-dollar perspective, scores as one of the more charitable towns in the New Jersey. 

The proportion of money given to charity in both boroughs was highest among households with the lowest incomes, and fell as household incomes climbed. 

Manasquan households earning between $50,000 and $99,000 gave an average of 5.6 percent of their discretionary income to charity; households earning between $100,000 and $199,000 gave 3.2 percent; and those making $200,000 and up donated just 2.1 percent. 

Belmar households earning between $50,000 and $99,000 gave an average of 5.5 percent of their discretionary income to charity; households earning between $100,000 and $199,000 gave 3 percent; and those making $200,000 and up donated just 2.2 percent. 

However, the actual dollar amounts given were highest from the wealthiest households and fell with incomes. 

Manasquan households earing $200,000 and higher gave an average of $6894; households earning between $100,000 and $199,000 gave $2550; and those making between $50,000 and $99,000 gave $1551. 

Belmar households earning $200,000 and up gave an average of $5687; households making between $100,000 and $199,000 gave $2348; and those making between $50,000 and $99,000 gave $1559. 

Not surprisingly, the most generous demographic in both boroughs was the 45 to 64 age bracket.

Manasquan youths, those under 20-years old, were also notably philanthropic by contributing 25 percent of the borough's total $9.3 million in charitable donations. 

In Belmar, the under-20 age bracket contributed 23 percent to the borough's $10.6 million charitable pie.