The Nonprofit Sector by State: Which States Have the Most Nonprofits Per Capita?

America's 1.93 million nonprofits aren't distributed evenly across the country. Some states have dramatically more nonprofits per capita than others — a pattern driven by history, culture, wealth, government policy, and civic engagement traditions. Here's a data-driven look at the geography of the nonprofit sector.

The Top 10 States by Nonprofits Per Capita

The states with the highest nonprofit density share common characteristics: small populations, strong civic traditions, outdoor recreation cultures, and relatively high wealth:

1. Vermont — ~9.5 per 1,000 residents. New England's civic tradition, combined with a small population and strong environmental/arts culture, creates America's densest nonprofit ecosystem.
2. Montana — ~9.0 per 1,000. Land trusts, conservation organizations, and rural community nonprofits thrive in the Big Sky State.
3. Alaska — ~8.8 per 1,000. Native tribal organizations, vast geography requiring local service delivery, and federal funding create high nonprofit density.
4. Wyoming — ~8.5 per 1,000. Similar to Montana — conservation, outdoor recreation, and a tiny population base.
5. Oregon — ~8.0 per 1,000. Portland's activist culture and the state's environmental ethic drive high nonprofit formation.
6. Maine — ~7.8 per 1,000. Land trusts, community organizations, and New England civic culture.
7. Colorado — ~7.5 per 1,000. Outdoor recreation, high wealth in Front Range communities, and a culture of philanthropy.
8. Massachusetts — ~7.3 per 1,000. Academic institutions, healthcare nonprofits, and deep philanthropic infrastructure.
9. Minnesota — ~7.2 per 1,000. The "Minnesota Nice" culture extends to civic participation, with strong traditions of community organizing and philanthropy.
10. Washington — ~7.0 per 1,000. Tech wealth, environmental organizations, and strong community foundations.

The Bottom 10 States by Nonprofits Per Capita

States with the lowest nonprofit density tend to have fast-growing populations, less established philanthropic infrastructure, and cultures where government or private enterprise fills roles that nonprofits fill elsewhere:

1. Nevada — ~3.5 per 1,000. Rapid population growth has outpaced nonprofit formation. The gaming industry fills some community roles that nonprofits serve elsewhere.
2. Utah — ~3.8 per 1,000. Despite strong civic participation, the LDS Church provides many services (welfare, education, community support) that other states address through secular nonprofits.
3. Texas — ~4.0 per 1,000. Massive population dilutes per-capita numbers, despite having the second-most total nonprofits.
4. Georgia — ~4.1 per 1,000. Rapid growth in metro Atlanta hasn't been matched by proportional nonprofit growth.
5. Arizona — ~4.2 per 1,000. Rapid population growth and a relatively young nonprofit sector.
6. Mississippi — ~4.3 per 1,000. Lower wealth and smaller philanthropic infrastructure limit nonprofit formation.
7. Louisiana — ~4.4 per 1,000. Despite a strong tradition of mutual aid, formal nonprofit registration rates are lower.
8. Alabama — ~4.4 per 1,000. Similar patterns to Mississippi — lower wealth limits formal nonprofit infrastructure.
9. Florida — ~4.5 per 1,000. Like Texas, massive population dilutes per-capita numbers.
10. California — ~4.6 per 1,000. The most total nonprofits (over 180,000) but a population of 39 million brings down the per-capita rate.

Total Nonprofits by State: The Big Numbers

In absolute terms, the most populated states dominate:

Revenue Per Nonprofit: The Wealth Gap

Perhaps more revealing than nonprofit count is average revenue per nonprofit, which varies enormously:

• Highest average revenue: States with major hospital systems and universities — Massachusetts (Mass General Brigham, Harvard), New York (NYU, NewYork-Presbyterian), and Pennsylvania (UPMC, Penn) — have significantly higher average revenue per nonprofit.
• Lowest average revenue: Rural states with many small community organizations — Montana, Vermont, Wyoming — have high nonprofit counts but low average revenue, reflecting a landscape of small, volunteer-driven organizations.

What Drives State Differences?

Several factors explain the geographic variation:

• Wealth: Wealthier states produce more philanthropic giving and more nonprofit formation. The correlation between state median income and nonprofits per capita is strong.
• Civic culture: States with stronger traditions of civic participation (New England, Upper Midwest, Pacific Northwest) consistently have more nonprofits per capita.
• Government policy: States with smaller government safety nets tend to have more nonprofits filling gaps — but the relationship isn't linear.
• Population growth: Fast-growing states (Texas, Florida, Arizona) tend to have fewer nonprofits per capita because population growth outpaces organizational formation.
• Religious landscape: States where churches provide extensive social services (Utah, the Deep South) may have fewer secular nonprofits.
• Land conservation: Mountain West and New England states have disproportionately more environmental and conservation nonprofits.

The Bottom Line

The geography of the nonprofit sector reveals deep patterns about American civic life. Where people have more wealth, more civic tradition, and more community engagement, nonprofits proliferate. Where populations are growing rapidly or government and religious institutions fill community roles, formal nonprofit density is lower. Understanding these patterns helps donors, policymakers, and nonprofit leaders identify where the sector is strong, where gaps exist, and where investment in nonprofit infrastructure could yield the greatest returns.