When it comes to supporting those in need, those with the least to give are often more generous than their wealthier counterparts, according to an analysis of charitable donations.
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Low income earners give $286 to charity each year, compared with only $222 for middle income earners and $306 for high income earners.
The analysis of charitable donations by the Commonwealth Bank found older people were the most generous, with the over-65s giving away an average of $425 each year.
People aged under-30 were the least philanthropic, donating an average of $147 to charity each year.
Men were more likely to dig deeper, parting with $257 a year compared with only $221 for women but couples and families donated a generous $313.
The findings come from analysis of 18.5 million transactions involving two million Commonwealth Bank customers and 185 charities over the 2013/14 and 2014/15 financial years.
The Commonwealth Bank's head of not-for-profit sector banking, Julienne Price, said the findings provide valuable insights into the charity sector.
"We found that the average donation size is $50 and the winter months are the most popular time for donations," she said.
"These sorts of insights can help charities better plan and target both existing and prospective donors in their fundraising efforts."
NSW donors comprise only 34 per cent of customers but donated 36 per cent of funds, with the Sydney suburb of Mosman topping the list of donations by value followed by the Melbourne suburbs of Camberwell and Kew.
Queensland recorded the greatest increase in donation value between 2013-15 and rural and regional centres showed greater charitable growth than urban areas, Ms Price said.
Humanitarian causes drew the most support, accounting for 44 per cent of all donations, followed by health and disability services (21 per cent), children's organisations (11 per cent) and animal welfare and environmental groups (9 per cent).
