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    About
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              Volunteering and Civic Life in America
              Every two years, AmeriCorps produces comprehensive research about civic engagement trends in the United States.
    Submitted by 
mbrodbeck
 on 
Wed, 11/23/2022 - 11:56Expanding the Reach and Impact of America's Volunteers


For the past 20 years, AmeriCorps has collaborated with the US Census Bureau to collect data on volunteering and civic engagement to take the pulse of our nation’s civic health. The Current Population Survey Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement is the most robust longitudinal survey about volunteerism and other forms of civic engagement in the United States.

The 2021 survey covers volunteering and other civic behaviors from September 2020-2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The data informs AmeriCorps’ Volunteering and Civic Life in America report, which examines national rates of organizational volunteering, helping others informally, charitable giving, and other civic behaviors. This research supports evidence-based decision making and efforts to understand how people make a difference in communities across the country.

                    



Formal Volunteering and Informal Helping
                  The rate of formal volunteering through organizations dropped by seven percentage points, from 30 percent in 2019 to 23.2 percent in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

                    




    


Formal Volunteering

Formal volunteering involves helping others through organizations and includes activities like supporting COVID-19 testing, immunization, and other public health efforts, conducting wellness checks on isolated seniors, supporting food banks, and providing virtual tutoring and mentoring to help students stay on track in school.

An estimated **23.2 percent** of Americans or more than **60.7 million people** formally volunteered with organizations between September 2020 and 2021. In total, these volunteers served an estimated **4.1 billion hours** with an **economic value of $122.9 billion**.
        Informal Helping

Informal helping involves helping others outside of an organizational context, including doing favors for neighbors like house sitting, watching each other’s children, lending tools, running errands, and other things to lend a hand.

The rate of Americans informally helping others remained stable between 2019 and 2021. Nearly **51 percent of Americans** or **124.7 million people** informally helped their neighbors between September 2020 and 2021.

                    





State, City, and Demographic Findings

Find out more about volunteering and civic life trends within demographic groups, states, and the largest 12 metropolitan areas.

                    



    
    

Select a stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
        Select a Metropolitan AreaAtlanta Metro AreaBoston Metro AreaChicago Metro AreaDallas Metro AreaHouston Metro AreaLos Angeles Metro AreaMiami Metro AreaNew York City Metro AreaPhiladelphia Metro AreaPhoenix Metro AreaRiverside Metro AreaWashington, DC Metro Area
        View the demographics

                    



    
    

Research Summary

View all of our key national findings in one place.

Download the Research Summary
        Toolkit

Find graphics, sample social media, press templates, fact sheets, and more.

Access the toolkit
        Dataset

View all of the data on AmeriCorps' open data platform.

View the Dataset

                    




    


Volunteer
        Volunteer

Your community needs you. Volunteer to make an impact. Whether you can volunteer long-term, short-term, or just one time, your time makes a tremendous difference.

Start now

                    


Relevant Research
  Toggle
  Benefits of National Service and Volunteering

Volunteering is good for your health, it promotes happiness over time and volunteers gain new skills and experiences. Check out more AmeriCorps research about the benefits of volunteering and how it can help build bridges across the nation.

Bridging Differences through AmeriCorps Service
	Health Benefits of Senior Corps
	Highlights from the AmeriCorps Member Exit Survey: 2016-2020 Dataset
	Spotlighting the CEV Series: Engaging with Neighbors (PDF)
	Spotlighting the CEV Series: Formal Volunteering and Informal Helping in America (PDF)
	Spotlighting the CEV Series: Formal Volunteering Intensity (PDF)
	Spotlighting the CEV Series: Work and Civic Life (PDF)
	Key Findings from the 2019 Current Population Survey: Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement (PDF)
	National Rates of Civic Engagement in 2019 and 2021 (PDF)
	Spotlight on AmeriCorps Research Grantees
	Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment: Does Volunteering Increase Odds of Finding a Job for the Out of Work?
	National Service Programs Provide a Powerful Return on Investment
	How Does Participating in National Service Impact Employment and Professional Development?
	National Service Shapes the Civic, Academic, and Career Trajectories of Alumni
	National Service Provides Pathways to Economic Opportunity
	VISTA Supports Local Nonprofits and Improves Community Well-Being (articles by AmeriCorps Research Grantee, University of Texas Austin)National Service Reports

Read state profiles to learn about AmeriCorps’ investments in your state.Member Exit Survey

Bridging Differences through AmeriCorps Service
	Highlights from the AmeriCorps Member Exit Survey: 2016-2020 Dataset
	AmeriCorps Fosters Civic Engagement

      


Trends Over Time
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  State Trends Over Time

View findings based on data collected in September of 2017, 2019, and 2021. These findings reflect weighted state-level rates of six key measures of civic engagement.

View the findings Back to main content Sign up to hear about our latest news, events, and opportunities.
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