Chattanooga high on giving list

The average Chattanoogan gives away nearly twice as much of his or her disposable income to charities and religious groups as the typical American.

A new study of tax filings found the average Chattanoogan donated $4,094 to churches and nonprofit agencies in 2008, or $1,530 more than the U.S. average. Collectively, residents in the metropolitan Chattanooga area donated more than $304 million to charities and religious groups, according to IRS filings for the most recent data available.

The study by the Chronicle of Philanthropy released this week found that Chattanoogans, on average, gave away 7.3 percent of their income remaining after purchases for essential items such as housing, child care and food. Nationwide, the typical American donated 4.7 percent of his disposable income to churches and charities.

Read More. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)