According to a study just published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Jewish-American families are more likely than those of other faiths to give to charities focusing on basic needs such as food and shelter. The study, by economist Mark Ottoni-Wilhelm, was based on data from the 2001, 2003 and 2005 waves of the Center on Philanthropy Panel Study.

While the results may still hold true today, one wonders how a more timely analysis might have benefited fundraising professionals.

from Miller-McCune:

Jewish Americans Win Alms Race

Giving money to the poor is a doctrine of pretty much every religion, but a new study suggests some faiths are better than others at inspiring their followers to actually open their wallets.

Specifically, Jewish families in the U.S. are more likely than their Christian counterparts to contribute to charities focusing on providing basic necessities.

That’s the conclusion of a study by economist Mark Ottoni-Wilhelm, just published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. After controlling for various factors that influence giving, such as income, education and family size, he found support for organizations focusing on food and shelter “does not vary across Christian denominations and nonaffiliated families in any notable way.”

“However, Jewish families are both more likely to give, and, when they do give, give larger amounts,” adds Ottoni-Wilhelm, who is in the economics department of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.