93% 

 

OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND EVALUATION 

AmeriCorps Member Exit Survey Analysis 

Spotlight On: Bridging Differences 

What is the 

Member Exit Survey (MES)? 

AmeriCorps members are asked 

to take a survey to capture insights 

about their service experience and 

attitudes upon exit from their 

program. 

Over 350,000 AmeriCorps State 

and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, 

and AmeriCorps NCCC members 

have completed the MES since 

April 2015. 

What do we mean by “Bridging Differences?” 

The AmeriCorps Member Exit Survey includes questions that align to four 

pathways of the AmeriCorps member experience: bridging differences, civic 

engagement, life and career skills, and ‘getting things done’. The bridging 

differences pathway describes members’ cultural competency: the ability to 

work with and within communities of people different from themselves, 

interacting with populations such as the unhoused, impoverished, 

incarcerated, or socially marginalized and serving alongside co-members 

from differing backgrounds (such as different cultural, socioeconomic, or 

ethnic backgrounds). 

Four survey questions provide information about the bridging differences 

pathway of the AmeriCorps members experience. This fact sheet provides an 

overview of the findings on this pathway; for more detail, read the full report. 

How do AmeriCorps members bridge differences? 

On surveys taken between 2016 – 2020, the vast majority of departing AmeriCorps members agreed that they: 

Enjoy exploring differences 

between co-workers 

and/or friends from 

different cultures 

and backgrounds 

Respect the values 

of people from 

different cultures 

and backgrounds 

CONSISTENT PATTERN ACROSS SUBGROUPS 

The proportions of survey respondents that agreed 

with these survey questions were similar across 

AmeriCorps programs, the focus area in which their 

service fell under, and respondent demographic 

characteristics like race, age, gender, and ethnicity. 

97% 

96% 

93% 

Enjoy interacting 

with people from 

different cultures 

and backgrounds 

Feel confident when 

interacting with 

people from different 

cultures and backgrounds 

SERVING AS PART OF A TEAM 

AmeriCorps members who reported working on a 

team more regularly during their service were more 

likely to demonstrate cultural competency on the MES 

compared to members who worked on teams less 

often during their service period. 

About the Office of Research and Evaluation 

The AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE) assists AmeriCorps and its partners in collecting, analyzing, 

and disseminating data and insights about AmeriCorps programs and civic life in America. 

About AmeriCorps 

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve 

their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and 

strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, shortterm, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at https://americorps.gov/.