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United Way of Central New York partnered with Drive Research, a national market research company based in Syracuse, to conduct this study in order to:
Compare charitable behaviors and attitudes in Central New York with those across the United States
Better understand how local residents define and engage with charity, including donation and volunteer habits
Identify the most important community causes and how priorities differ across generations
Explore barriers to giving and volunteering, along with the role of economic factors and employers in shaping community support
Our goal is for these findings to provide valuable insights that local organizations can use to strengthen campaigns, engage donors and volunteers, and guide planning for the year ahead.
First introduced in 2023, the State of Caring survey is designed as an accessible online questionnaire that balances ease of participation with comprehensive insights. The 2025 iteration included 37 questions and was estimated to take about nine minutes to complete. Conducted from June 3 to July 1, 2025, the survey gathered input from 602 participants. The methodology emphasized accessibility and inclusivity by utilizing an online format, allowing for a wide range of voices to be heard.
