Massachusetts legislators are big givers with other people’s money. Campaign finance reports for 2008 indicate lawmakers took about $1 million of the $9.8 million they raised from supporters and donated it to charities, other politicians, or a political party.

The records show 179 lawmakers gave just over $650,000 to charitable causes. Senate President Therese Murray led the way, donating $32,485, or nearly 10 percent of the money she raised in 2008, to charitable groups. They included the Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston, which received over $4,000, as well as a host of organizations in the Plymouth area including the Plymouth Center for the Arts ($1,000). Other big givers in the Legislature included Sen. Steven Tolman of Brighton, who donated $17,000 to local charities, and Sen. Steven Baddour of Methuen, who donated $15,000.

All but 26 of the 200 lawmakers on Beacon Hill gave money to a fellow politician or a political campaign in 2008. The total handed out was $406,000, with about half going to the Massachusetts Democratic Party, which uses the donations to support its candidates. “Candidates contribute to the [state party] for the purpose of supporting the coordinated campaign,” Stacey Monahan, the Democrats’ executive director, said in an email.

Former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi was tops in political contributions, donating $25,000 to the state party. He was followed by Rep. Jim Arciero of Westford, who donated $21,000 to the state party during his successful run for office last year.