Best states for social activism

SmileHub - As social movements continue to shape our nation’s cultural landscape, the non-profit organization SmileHub today released new reports on the Best Charities for Rights & Activism and the Best States for Social Activism in 2026.

SmileHub compared the social activism environment in all 50 states across 15 key metrics. The data set ranges from the number of rights/activism charities per capita to the number of civic/social organizations per capita to the share of eligible voters who voted in the 2024 Presidential Election.

Best States for Social Activism	States in Need of Improvement
1. Minnesota	41. Missouri
2. Maryland	42. Kentucky
3. Virginia	43. Tennessee
4. Colorado	44. Oklahoma
5. Vermont	45. South Carolina
6. Washington	46. West Virginia
7. Illinois	47. Alabama
8. Oregon	48. Arkansas
9. Massachusetts	49. Louisiana
10. Connecticut	50. Mississippi

 Key Stats

• Vermont has the most civic & social organizations per capita – 7.3 times more than Nevada, which has the fewest organizations.
• California has the most rights & activism charities per capita – 14.4 times more than Maine, which has the fewest charities.
• Vermont has the highest share of population belonging to civic & social groups, organizations, or associations – 2.8 times more than Alabama, which has the lowest share.

Full report and your state’s rank