ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Single men across Maryland are trading pickup lines for puppy leashes, banking on a new dating edge: volunteering. A DatingNews survey of 3,004 singles, released March 19, 2025, dubs them “philanthropy players”—17% of Maryland’s unattached guys admit they’re hitting animal shelters not just to save strays, but to score swipes. It’s a calculated charm offensive, and it’s working, with 45% of singles more likely to swipe right on a do-gooder’s profile pic.
These gents aren’t lone wolves. Hawaii tops the list with 50% confessing to the tactic, while Nevada lags at 4%. In Maryland, animal shelters reign supreme as the go-to cause—think soulful eyes cradling a rescue pup—followed by food banks and soup kitchens, where ladling stew signals compassion. Wildlife sanctuaries round out the top three, offering a rugged, earthy appeal.
“In the world of dating, it can be quite hard to attract people’s attention,” says Amber Brooks, senior editor at DatingNews. “So adding an extra element to your dating profile, particularly one that shows you’re a good person, can be a positive advantage. In the end, everyone benefits—the people, animals or habitat you’re helping, and your love life!”
The numbers back the hustle: one in five Maryland men—about 17%—owns up to this romantic ruse, and 16% nationwide fess up to padding their volunteer creds. Why? Because 81% of singles say shared altruism could seal the deal, though 68% draw a hard line at fakers—exaggeration’s a red flag. Subtlety’s the play—43% drop a coy “I just got back from something cool,” fishing for curiosity, while 34% go bold: “Can’t stay late, early shift tomorrow.” The smugger set (14%) brag about shelter kids’ adoration; 9% flex sore arms from tree-planting.
Maryland’s shelters—like Baltimore’s BARCS, which logged over 11,000 adoptions in 2023—offer prime turf for this game. Volunteers there walk dogs, clean kennels, and, apparently, polish their dating profiles. Food banks, like the Maryland Food Bank’s 117 million meals in 2024, draw the selfless—and the strategic. A “volunteer date” pitch? Nearly half (49%) call it a blast over dinner; 33% prefer chill vibes; 5% say yes, but only in cute outfits; 13% just want their meal.
It’s a modern twist on an old adage: do good, feel good—and maybe land a date. With dating apps ruling romance—17% of U.S. adults swiped in 2023, per Statista—Maryland’s philanthropy players are betting on hearts, one paw at a time.
