We spoke to people living in the five highest-ranking countries to find out what motivates them to donate their time and money, and how it affects the society there.

This is a trait that some feel has been passed down for generations. “On both sides, my grandparents gave and gave and gave. They never bragged about it but they did tell me the stories, like hosting food and soup lines for many years through the Great Depression and both WWI and WWII,” said Zoe Helene, who lives in Massachusetts. “I think they wanted me to know that compassion for others was essential to character and that people need to take care of each other, otherwise civilization falls apart.”