Research Report Brief

AmeriCorps Alumni Pilot Outcomes 

Study: Findings on Cultural 

Competency and Diversity Skills 

What was the research question? 

The purpose of this study was to understand and document long-term 

outcomes for AmeriCorps alumni in four areas: development of careeroriented soft skills, career pathways, sense of community, and civic 

engagement. This research brief presents key findings related to alumni’s 

cultural competency, ability to work with diverse others, and perceptions of 

how the AmeriCorps experience increased their abilities in these areas.

Office of Research and Evaluation, Corporation for National and Community Service October 2015 

nationalservice.gov/research 1 

What did the survey find?

AmeriCorps alumni have high levels of cultural competency and are skilled 

at working with diverse groups of people. 

 Nine out of ten alumni agree or strongly agree that they enjoy 

exploring differences with others, enjoy interacting with different 

people, respect others’ values, and are confident interacting with 

diverse people. Alumni reported gains in all these areas compared 

to before service. 

 97% of alumni rated themselves as excellent or good at working with people different from 

themselves, and 86% of alumni 

reported that their AmeriCorps 

experience helped them increase 

this skill either a great deal or 

somewhat.

 87% of alumni agree or strongly agree 

that during AmeriCorps they were 

exposed to new ideas and ways of 

seeing the world.

 78% of alumni agree or strongly agree 

that during AmeriCorps they learned 

more about the real world or the rest 

of the world.

 94% of alumni agree or strongly agree 

that during AmeriCorps they gained an understanding of the community(s) where they served. 

 66% of alumni agree or strongly agree that during AmeriCorps they re-examined their beliefs and 

attitudes about other people. 

 
Research Report Brief

AmeriCorps Alumni Pilot Outcomes 

Study: Findings on Cultural 

Competency and Diversity Skills

Office of Research and Evaluation, Corporation for National and Community Service October 2015 

nationalservice.gov/research 2 

Research Methodology1

An online survey was fielded, with follow-up reminders and the option to complete the survey by telephone 

or mail. The survey instrument was based largely on the Member Exit Survey that CNCS administers to all 

members at the completion of their service, and was modified and pilot tested prior to widespread 

administration. The alumni outcomes survey project was a collaboration between the CNCS Office of Research 

and Evaluation and JBS International. Data collection and reporting occurred in spring/summer 2015. The 

project was funded by the Office of Research and Evaluation. 

1 The survey response rate was 20%. The data were weighted using both sampling weights and nonresponse weights across programs and years so the 

reported frequencies correspond to a nationally representative sample of alumni across the sampled cohorts and programs.

Survey At-a-Glance 

Study Design: Nationally representative 

survey 

Study Population: AmeriCorps State and 

National, AmeriCorps NCCC, and 

AmeriCorps VISTA alumni from three 

cohorts who finished serving in 2004, 2009, 

and 2012

Research Partner: JBS International 

Sample Size: 1468 useable responses 

What do the findings mean? 

AmeriCorps alumni have high levels of cultural competency, and they report that during their AmeriCorps 

experience they were exposed to new ideas, learned more about the rest of the world, and gained an 

understanding of the community where they served. Almost all alumni report that they are skilled at working

with people different than themselves, and they believe that the AmeriCorps experience helped them increase

this skill. The findings demonstrate that AmeriCorps service is a valuable mechanism for citizens to engage 

with different kinds of people and improve their own abilities to thrive in diverse environments. These are 

incredibly valuable skills in an increasingly diverse country and world. 

The content of this brief was drawn from the full research report submitted to CNCS by JBS International. The brief was written by staff in the 

Office of Research and Evaluation at CNCS. All original content from the report is attributable to its authors.

AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and 

faith-based groups across the country. Since the program’s founding in 1994, more than 900,000 AmeriCorps members have contributed more 

than 1.2 billion hours in service across America while tackling pressing problems and mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they 

serve. 

Since the program’s founding in 1994, more than 900,000 AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.2 billion hours in service across 

America while tackling pressing problems and mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.