Memphis Makes Me ... Want to give
Grit, Grind, and Give
There are a lot of reasons Memphians live in Memphis: family ties, the cost of living, and the big city, small town feel being among them. We love going to Kroger and seeing three church members, a cousin, and a former colleague. We love going to raucous basketball games that are big on talent and even bigger on fun. We love how the bridge lights up, the Arts community is first class, and we love how just about every one of us would give their last ten dollars to St. Jude any day of the week. We may have our differences here in the River City but one thing we’ve got in common is pretty beautiful…generosity.
Exceeded Giving Goals
Back in 2008, Memphis was giving on average double what the typical American household was giving to charity. In 2017, we were noted as the most generous city in the nation and at the height of the pandemic in 2020, we were giving over 6 percent of our household income away, significantly higher than the national average. We’re a people who, for a host of reasons, see a need and meet it. And we’ll encourage anyone else along the way to join us in the efforts.
It’s notable that the Memphis area hosts over 5,000 non-profits, outside of churches (and heaven knows we have about a million of those). Compare that (even though we shouldn’t compare, right?) to Nashville’s 1,100 non-profits, and our approximately 30,000 fewer people and you have a rough idea of just how crazy we are about giving. Memphians are impassioned with doing for others, whether it be for the sake of the arts, for the sake of the refugee and immigrant, or for the sake of the sick. But why? What makes a city birth and breed generosity among its citizens? What makes the average Memphian, whose median income is just under $25,000 a year, so given to giving?
Giving As Culture
As previously noted, Memphis has a lot of churches. Over 2,000, in fact, of just about every faith, creed and denomination, set within our city borders. Considering we’re right smack dab in the Bible belt, it’s not surprising that most of us have darkened a church door at least once or twice and heard about the virtues of generosity. But we’re also a people who have been through some dark times. Even now, Memphis battles annually with some of the highest poverty rates in the country. We’ve been waylaid by disease and bankruptcy in the past, and as a blue collar town, shifts in the economy impact us in dramatic ways. Nothing has really come easy in Memphis. Maybe that’s why when we see need, we don’t just sympathize…we empathize. We know the pain and the struggle and if we have two dimes to rub together, we’ll give you one. Because, quite simply, we just know. There’s something to be said about the kind of people who are so quick to give. Just another reason it’s so good to live in Memphis.
Favorite Ways to Give
Feeling inspired to shell out a little cash for a good cause? Take a look at this years Life Walk, which is the annual fundraising event for Life Choices. The Porter Group is the presenting sponsor this year, and we’re excited to help advance the mission of a worthy cause like Life Choices! There are also tons of other options to give to local non-profits! Browse some of our favorite ways below to practice that Memphis generosity: