When it comes to supporting our own, Idaho knows how to get it done.

A recent study by WalletHub, a personal finance social network, named Idaho and Kansas as the third-most charitable states.

Liz Montgomery, executive director of Inland Northwest SIDS Foundation, has witnessed how Kootenai County has rallied to support those in need so she's not surprised about Idaho's ranking.

"We have such a giving local community that I assume our whole state has similar ideals," Montgomery said.

Factors used to compile the rankings and how Idaho was ranked in each of the categories include: volunteer rate, third; growth in charitable giving in 2012 compared to 2006, second; percentage of adjusted gross income donated, seventh; percentage of population who claim to have donated time, ninth; percentage of taxpayers who donated to charity, 26th; and median contribution to charity, ninth.

Mormon-dominated Utah ranked No. 1 overall, followed by South Dakota. Montana was seventh and Washington eighth. Nevada ranked last at No. 50.

Trends at local nonprofits help bolster Idaho's high ranking.

"The Inland Northwest SIDS Foundation has only been around since 2012 but we find that our volunteer base has tripled in size each year," Montgomery said. "We hope this growth continues as we rely 100 percent on our volunteers."

The nonprofit has hosted an annual fun run/auction fundraiser called Run for the Angels for each of the past three years.

The first year consisted of 30 volunteers, 325 runners and $3,000 in donations. This year included 130 volunteers, 625 runners and $18,000 in donations.

"Since its inception, the Inland Northwest SIDS Foundation has been embraced by this community," Montgomery said. "Whenever we need something such as printing, advertising, volunteers or support of any kind, we only have to ask and have rarely been turned down. I am absolutely blown away at the support our community has given to us."

Jeff Conroy, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul, has been fundraising in this area for 20 years.

"I'm always amazed at our area's capacity for giving," he said. "It's wonderful. The community always responds when we need help. I love where I live."

Theresa Hart, founder of the nonprofit Newby-ginnings of North Idaho - named after her son Nick Newby, who was killed in Iraq in 2011 - said she is often "awe-stricken" at the lengths people will go to support veterans in need.

"We are able to provide the services that we do only because of the giving heart of this community," Hart said.

The nonprofit has served more than 300 veterans in just a year of existence.

"All you have to do is visit the Newby-ginnings shop to view firsthand the charitable nature of the people in our community," Hart said.

Sherry Wallis, executive director of the Post Falls Food Bank, said more than 300 volunteers assist the nonprofit and donate more than 14,000 hours of volunteer time annually.

"The need is great and these community resources allow us to fulfill our mission of providing hunger relief in our community," Wallis said.

Wallis said it takes an army with different strengths - those used as factors to compile the state rankings in the WalletHub report - to make the wheels of nonprofits turn.

"I believe many people would like to volunteer, but because of job and family obligations, they simply do not have the time," she said. "However, they often support us through community food drives with cash donations, which is also extremely important for our mission."

Wallis said the food bank's grocery partners are the meat and potatoes of the nonprofit, cash donors the heartbeat and volunteers the soul.

"Picture a three-legged stool," she said. "Without these three, we could not fulfill our mission."

Wallis said food and cash donations at the food bank have started to recover with the economy.

"But the poor in our community are still experiencing extremely difficult times because of the cost of living and their limited incomes," she said.

Wallis cited fundraising last year to pay off the mortgage for the food bank's building as an example of how the community rallies behind a need.

"The fundraiser was in November (in 2013) and the building was paid off in January," she said.

According to the National Philanthropic Trust, 95.4 percent of households donate to charities, contributing an annual average of $2,974.

Find WalletHub's full report at: wallethub.com/edu/most-and-least-charitable-states/8555.