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              60.7 million Americans Volunteered in 2021, AmeriCorps Reports
      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Jan 25, 2023
  

                    *Volunteer hours generated nearly $123 billion in economic value according to national service agency Volunteering and Civic Life in America research*

WASHINGTON, DC – AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, today released its **Volunteering and Civic Life in America research**, the most comprehensive data on American volunteering and civic engagement assembled. Based on a survey conducted by **AmeriCorps** and the **US Census** every other year, the research includes data on volunteering through organizations, informal helping and other civic behaviors.

According to the research, Americans contributed countless hours to their communities through formal and informal volunteerism between September 2020 and 2021 during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 51 percent of Americans, or 124.7 million people, informally helped their neighbors at least once in the past year. Additionally, more than 23 percent of Americans, or 60.7 million people, formally volunteered with an organization, giving more than 4.1 billion hours of service with an estimated economic value of $122.9 billion.

“AmeriCorps’ newly released Volunteering and Civic Life in America research underscores that we are in a defining moment of our time. While we saw the first ever decline in formal volunteering with organizations, we also saw that despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastating impact, Americans support to their neighbors remained steady and tens of millions continued serving their communities,” **said Michael D. Smith, AmeriCorps CEO**. “Whether volunteering one time or long-term, Americans can make a tremendous difference, and I am more confident than ever before about the power and potential of service to meet the challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Formal Volunteering

Through local nonprofit and community-based organizations, Americans are afforded new ways to engage with their communities and foster a sense of constructive action, civic participation and belonging. Volunteers support American schools and shelters, hospitals and hotlines, food banks, and civic, nonprofit, tribal and faith-based organizations across the country.

*Formal volunteering involves helping others through organizations. Below are the 10 states with the highest formal volunteering rates in the country in 2021.*

State
			2021 Formal Volunteering RateUtah
			40.7%Wyoming
			39.2%Minnesota
			35.5%Maine
			34.9%Washington, DC
			34.2%South Dakota
			34.2%Nebraska
			33.9%Kansas
			31.5%Montana
			31.1%Missouri
			30.5%Informal Helping

Despite the devastating impact of COVID-19, Americans continued to serve each other and their communities – giving their time and talent to help others at a time of unprecedented need. They helped neighbors by doing favors like watching each other’s children, running errands and other activities to lend a hand.

*Informal helping involves assisting others outside of an organizational context, including doing favors for neighbors. Below are the 10 states with the highest informal helping rates in the country in 2021.*

State
			2021 Informal Helping RateMontana
			68.8%Nebraska
			66.4%Maine
			65.0%Delaware
			63.9%Vermont
			63.9%Minnesota
			61.9%Utah
			61.6%West Virginia
			60.5%Iowa
			60.3%Pennsylvania
			60.1%Metropolitan Areas – Formal Volunteering and Informal Helping Rates

*View formal volunteering and informal helping rates for the 12 largest metropolitan areas in 2021.*

Metropolitan Area
			Formal Volunteering Rate
			Informal Helping RateNew York Metro Area
			19.4%
			43.6%Los Angeles Metro Area
			15.1%
			41.7%Chicago Metro Area
			27.6%
			54.6%Dallas Metro Area
			18.8%
			43.0%Houston Metro Area
			20.1%
			48.5%Washington, DC Metro Area
			27.9%
			46.8%Philadelphia Metro Area
			28.7%
			57.8%Atlanta Metro Area
			19.6%
			40.8%Miami Metro Area
			14.0%
			35.5%Phoenix Metro Area
			25.4%
			47.4%Boston Metro Area
			25.4%
			57.9%Riverside Metro Area
			9.0%
			44.2%Volunteering and Civic Engagement in America complements a large body of other **AmeriCorps’ research** demonstrating a substantial **return on investment** of national service for both the government and the communities served, and improved **employment outcomes** and mental and physical health benefits for those who volunteer. AmeriCorps will release additional analyses of Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement data in the coming months.
              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 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at **AmeriCorps.gov**.

AmeriCorps offers opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to be a part of the national service community, grow personally and professionally, and receive benefits for their service. Learn how to get involved at **AmeriCorps.gov/serve**. Back to main content Sign up to hear about our latest news, events, and opportunities.
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