2

Technical information: (202) 691-6378

 http://www.bls.gov/cps/

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 03-888

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Wednesday, December 17, 2003

VOLUNTEERING IN THE UNITED STATES, 2003

Both the number of volunteers and the volunteer rate rose over the year ended in September 2003, the

Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. About 63.8 million people did

volunteer work at some point from September 2002 to September 2003, up from 59.8 million for the similar

period ended in September 2002. The volunteer rate grew to 28.8 percent, up from 27.4 percent.

These data on volunteering were collected through a supplement to the September 2003 Current Population Survey (CPS). Volunteers are defined as persons who did unpaid work (except for expenses) through

or for an organization. The CPS is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households that obtains information on

employment and unemployment among the nation’s civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over. For

more information about the volunteer supplement, see the Technical Note.

Changes in Volunteer Rates

About 25.1 percent of men and 32.2 percent of women did volunteer work in the year ended in

September 2003, increases of 1.5 and 1.2 percentage points from 2002, respectively. For teenagers, the

volunteer rate jumped by 2.6 percentage points to 29.5 percent. In contrast, the volunteer rate for the group

most likely to volunteer, 35- to 44-year olds, was little changed at 34.7 percent. (See tables A and 1.)

The volunteer rate for whites rose from 29.2 percent for the year ended in September 2002 to 30.6

percent for the year ended in September 2003, while the rates for blacks and Hispanics were little changed.

About 18.7 percent of Asians performed some sort of volunteer work through or for an organization over

the year ended in September 2003. (Data for Asians were not tabulated in 2002.)

Among persons 25 years of age and over, the volunteer rates for those with at least some college education or a bachelor’s degree or better rose over the year, while the rates for those whose education had

not gone beyond high school graduation remained about the same.

Volunteering Among Demographic Groups

Almost 64 million persons, or 28.8 percent of the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over,

volunteered through or for organizations at some point from September 2002 to September 2003. Women

volunteered at a higher rate than did men, a relationship that held across age groups, education levels, and

other major characteristics. (See table 1.)

By age, 35- to 44-year olds were the most likely to volunteer, closely followed by 45- to 54-year olds.

Their volunteer rates were 34.7 percent and 32.7 percent, respectively. Teenagers also had a relatively high
2

Table A. Volunteers by selected characteristics, September 2002 and 2003

 

(Numbers in thousands) 

 Sex

Total, both sexes............................................................ 59,783 27.4 52 63,791 28.8 52

 Men........................................................................ 24,706 23.6 52 26,805 25.1 52

 Women...................................................................... 35,076 31.0 50 36,987 32.2 52

Age

Total, 16 years and over............................... 59,783 27.4 52 63,791 28.8 52

 16 to 24 years............................................................. 7,742 21.9 40 8,671 24.1 40

 25 to 34 years............................................................. 9,574 24.8 33 10,337 26.5 36

 35 to 44 years............................................................. 14,971 34.1 52 15,165 34.7 50

 45 to 54 years............................................................. 12,477 31.3 52 13,302 32.7 52

 55 to 64 years............................................................. 7,331 27.5 60 8,170 29.2 60

 65 years and over.......................................................... 7,687 22.7 96 8,146 23.7 88

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

White1....................................................................... 52,591 29.2 52 55,572 30.6 52

Black or African American1

................................. 4,896 19.1 52 5,145 20.0 52

Asian1....................................................................... (2) (2) (2) 1,735 18.7 40

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity................................ 4,059 15.5 40 4,364 15.7 40

Educational attainment3

Less than a high school diploma....................... 2,806 10.1 48 2,793 9.9 48

High school graduate, no college4................... 12,542 21.2 49 12,882 21.7 48

Less than a bachelor's degree5...................... 15,066 32.8 52 15,966 34.1 52

College graduates........................................................... 21,627 43.3 60 23,481 45.6 60

Employment status

Civilian labor force........................................................ 42,773 29.3 48 45,499 30.9 48

 Employed.................................................................. 40,742 29.5 48 43,138 31.2 48

 Full time6

........................................................ 32,210 28.3 46 33,599 29.6 48

 Part time7............................................................8,532 35.4 52 9,539 38.4 52

 Unemployed................................................................ 2,031 25.1 50 2,361 26.7 48

Not in the labor force...................................................... 17,010 23.7 72 18,293 24.6 66

 

1

 Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group are not 

 included. Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they identified as the main race.

 

2

 Data for Asians were not tabulated in 2002.

 

3

 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.

 

4

 Includes high school diploma or equivalent.

 

5

 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.

 

6

 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.

 

7

 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.

 r = revised. Estimates for 2002 have been revised to reflect the use of Census 2000-based population controls. See the

 Technical Note for additional information.

 NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data 

 are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, 

 therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race. 

Characteristic Number

September 2002r September 2003

Number Percent of 

population

Median 

annual 

hours

Median 

annual 

hours

Percent of 

population
3

volunteer rate, 29.5 percent, perhaps reflecting an emphasis on volunteer activities in schools. Volunteer

rates were lowest among persons age 65 years and over (23.7 percent) and among those in their early

twenties (19.7 percent). Within the 65 years and over group, volunteer rates decreased as age increased.

Parents with children under age 18 were more likely to volunteer than persons with no children of that

age, with volunteer rates of 37.5 percent and 25.0 percent, respectively. Volunteer rates were higher among

married persons (34.0 percent) than among never-married persons (22.8 percent) and persons of other

marital statuses (22.5 percent).

Whites volunteered at a higher rate (30.6 percent) than did blacks (20.0 percent) and Asians (18.7 percent). Among individuals of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 15.7 percent volunteered.

Overall, 31.2 percent of all employed persons had volunteered during the year ended in September

2003. By comparison, the volunteer rates of persons who were unemployed (26.7 percent) or not in the

labor force (24.6 percent) were lower. Among the employed, part-time workers were more likely than fulltime workers to have participated in volunteer activities—38.4 percent and 29.6 percent, respectively.

Total Annual Hours Spent Volunteering

Volunteers spent a median of 52 hours on volunteer activities during the period from September 2002 to

September 2003, unchanged from the previous survey period. The median number of hours men and women

spent volunteering was the same (52 hours). (See table 2.)

Among the age groups, volunteers age 65 and over devoted the most time—a median of 88 hours—to

volunteer activities. Those age 25 to 34 years spent the least time, volunteering a median of 36 hours during

the year.

Number and Type of Organizations

Most volunteers were involved with one or two organizations—69.2 percent and 19.2 percent, respectively. Individuals with higher educational attainment were more likely to volunteer for multiple organizations

than were individuals with less education. (See table 3.)

The main organization—the organization for which the volunteer worked the most hours during the year—

was either religious (34.6 percent of all volunteers) or educational/youth-service related (27.4 percent). Another 11.8 percent of volunteers performed activities mainly for social or community service organizations, and

8.2 percent volunteered the most hours for hospitals or other health organizations. This distribution is largely

the same as in the prior year. (See table 4.)

Older volunteers were more likely to work mainly for religious organizations than were their younger

counterparts. For example, 46.5 percent of volunteers age 65 and over performed volunteer activities mainly

through or for a religious organization, compared with 29.1 percent of volunteers age 16 to 24 years.

Younger individuals were more likely to volunteer for educational or youth service organizations.

Among volunteers with children under 18 years, 47.2 percent of mothers and 36.1 percent of fathers

volunteered mainly for an educational/youth-service related organization, such as a school or little league.

Parents were more than twice as likely to volunteer for such organizations as persons with no children of

that age. Conversely, volunteers with no children under 18 were about twice as likely as parents to volunteer for some other types of organizations, such as social or community service organizations.
4

Volunteer Activities for Main Organization

The activities of volunteers varied. Among the more commonly reported (volunteers could report more

than one activity) were fundraising or selling items to raise money (28.8 percent); coaching, refereeing, tutoring, or teaching (28.6 percent); collecting, preparing, distributing, or serving food (24.9 percent); providing information, which would include being an usher, greeter, or minister (22.0 percent); and engaging in

general labor (21.8 percent). (See table 5.)

Some demographic groups were more likely to engage in certain activities than were others. For

example, parents of children under 18 were much more likely to coach, referee, tutor, or teach than were

persons with no children of that age. College graduates were more than four times as likely as those with

less than a high school diploma to provide professional or management assistance.

The volunteer activity categories were redesigned for 2003 to be more consistent conceptually and to

provide better information about the types of volunteer activities performed. The redesign eliminated a

"catch-all" category used in 2002 that received over two-fifths of all responses to the question on the type

of volunteer activities performed. As a result of the redesign, the 2003 data on volunteer activities performed

are not comparable with the data for 2002.

How Volunteers Became Involved with Main Organization

Two in five volunteers became involved with the main organization for which they did volunteer work on

their own initiative; that is, they approached the organization. Almost 44 percent were asked to become a

volunteer, most often by someone in the organization. (See table 6.)

Reasons for Not Volunteering

Among those who had volunteered at some point in the past, the most common reason given for not

volunteering in the year ended September 2003 was lack of time (44.7 percent), followed by health or

medical problems (14.7 percent) and family responsibilities or childcare problems (9.5 percent). Lack of

time was the most common reason for all groups except those age 65 and over and for those with less

than a high school diploma, or who were not in the labor force—both of which contained a relatively high

proportion of older persons. For each of these three groups, health or medical problems was the primary

reason for not volunteering.

Changes in Volunteer Estimates

Estimates shown in this release for the years ended September 2002 and September

2003 are based on Census 2000 population controls. For this reason, the estimates for the

year ended September 2002 appearing in this release may differ from those published earlier,

which were based on population controls derived from the 1990 census. For further information on these changes, see the Technical Note.
Technical Note

The data in this release were collected through a supplement to the September 2003 Current Population Survey

(CPS). The CPS—a monthly survey of about 60,000 households

conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor

Statistics—focuses on obtaining information on employment

and unemployment among the nation’s civilian noninstitutional

population age 16 and over. The purpose of this supplement

to the CPS was to obtain information on the incidence of

volunteering and the characteristics of volunteers in the United

States.

The 2002 data in this release have been revised to reflect

Census 2000-based population controls and thus may differ from

previously published estimates which were based on population

controls that were derived from the 1990 census. Sample results

from the CPS are weighted up to independent estimates of the

population by sex, age, race, and Hispanic or Latino/non-Hispanic

ethnicity. The weights, or population controls, are developed

using counts of the civilian noninstitutional population derived

from the decennial census and are updated using information

from administrative records.

Information in this release will be made available to sensoryimpaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200;

TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.

Reliability of the estimates

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling

and nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than the entire

population, is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the "true" population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that

an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6

standard errors from the "true" population value because of

sampling error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at the

90-percent level of confidence.

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error.

Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the

failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to obtain

information for all respondents in the sample, inability or

unwillingness of respondents to provide correct information,

and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.

For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS

and for information on estimating standard errors, see the

"Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error" section of

Employment and Earnings.

Volunteer questions and concepts

In the September 2003 supplement, questions on volunteer

activities were asked of all households. Efforts were made to

have household members answer the volunteer questions for

themselves. (Generally, one member of the household answers

all the questions in the CPS.) Self response was considered

important for the volunteer supplement because research

indicated that self respondents could more easily answer

questions on the characteristics of the volunteer activity.

About three-quarters of the responses were self reports.

The survey was introduced as follows: "This month, we are

interested in volunteer activities, that is, activities for which

people are not paid, except perhaps expenses. We only want

you to include volunteer activities that you did through or for

an organization, even if you only did them once in a while."

Following this introduction, respondents were asked the

first supplement question: "Since September 1stof last year,

have you done any volunteer activities through or for an

organization?"

If respondents did not answer "yes" to the first question,

they were asked the following question: "Sometimes people

don’t think of activities they do infrequently or activities they

do for children’s schools or youth organizations as volunteer

activities. Since September 1st of last year, have you done any

of these types of volunteer activities?"

Respondents were considered volunteers if they answered

"yes" to either of these questions.

Respondents thus classified as volunteers were asked

further questions about the number and type of organizations

for which they volunteered, total hours spent volunteering,

how they became involved with the main organization for which

they volunteered, and the type of activities they performed for

the main organization.

In a redesigned question, non-volunteers were asked if they

had ever volunteered. If they responded "yes," they were asked

for the reason that they had not volunteered during the previous

year.

The volunteer activity categories also were redesigned for

2003 to be more consistent conceptually and to provide better

information about the types of volunteer activities performed.

This redesign eliminated a "catch-all" category used in 2002 that

received over two-fifths of all responses to the question on the

type of volunteer activities performed.

The reference period for the questions on volunteering was

about 1 year, from September 1, 2002, through the survey week

in September 2003. The reference period for other characteristics,

such as labor force status, educational attainment, and marital

status, refer to the survey reference week in September 2003. It

is possible that these characteristics were different at the time

volunteer activities were performed.

Definitions

Volunteers are persons who performed unpaid volunteer

activities at any point from September 1, 2002, through the
survey period in September 2003. The count of volunteers only

includes persons who volunteered through or for an

organization; the figures do not include persons who

volunteered in a more informal manner. For example, a woman

who teaches acting to children through a local theater would

be considered a volunteer. A woman who, on her own, organizes

softball games for the children in her neighborhood would not

be counted as a volunteer for the purpose of this survey.

Organizations are associations, societies, or groups of

people who share a common interest. Examples include

churches, youth groups, and civic organizations. For the

purpose of this study, organizations are classified into eight

major categories, including religious, youth, and social or

community service organizations. (See table 4.)

The main organization is the organization for which the

volunteer worked the most hours during the year. If a respondent

volunteered for only one organization, it was considered the main

organization, even if exact hours were not obtained.

In order to identify the type of main organization,

respondents had to provide information about the organization and, for those who volunteered for more than one

organization, annual hours worked for each. Some

respondents did not provide the information necessary to

determine the type of main organization. For these

respondents, the follow-up questions on activities and how

they became involved with the main organization asked them

to report on the organization for which they think they spent

the most time volunteering.
Table 1. Volunteers by selected characteristics, September 2003

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristics in September 2003

Total, both sexes Men Women

Civilian

noninstitutional

population

Volunteers Civilian

noninstitutional

population

Volunteers Civilian

noninstitutional

population

Volunteers

Number Percent of

population Number Percent ofpopulation Number Percent ofpopulation

Age

Total, 16 years and over ........................... 221,779 63,791 28.8 106,744 26,805 25.1 115,035 36,987 32.2

 16 to 24 years ......................................... 35,979 8,671 24.1 18,079 3,782 20.9 17,900 4,888 27.3

 16 to 19 years ...................................... 16,131 4,758 29.5 8,176 2,098 25.7 7,955 2,661 33.4

 20 to 24 years ...................................... 19,848 3,912 19.7 9,903 1,685 17.0 9,945 2,228 22.4

 25 years and over ................................... 185,800 55,121 29.7 88,665 23,022 26.0 97,135 32,098 33.0

 25 to 34 years ...................................... 39,072 10,337 26.5 19,375 3,976 20.5 19,697 6,360 32.3

 35 to 44 years ...................................... 43,691 15,165 34.7 21,440 6,308 29.4 22,251 8,857 39.8

 45 to 54 years ...................................... 40,692 13,302 32.7 19,863 5,829 29.3 20,828 7,474 35.9

 55 to 64 years ...................................... 28,003 8,170 29.2 13,437 3,569 26.6 14,566 4,602 31.6

 65 years and over ................................ 34,342 8,146 23.7 14,550 3,341 23.0 19,792 4,806 24.3

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

White ........................................................ 181,696 55,572 30.6 88,462 23,507 26.6 93,234 32,065 34.4

Black or African American ........................ 25,784 5,145 20.0 11,501 1,975 17.2 14,283 3,170 22.2

Asian ......................................................... 9,278 1,735 18.7 4,362 774 17.7 4,916 961 19.5

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ....................... 27,808 4,364 15.7 14,233 1,702 12.0 13,575 2,662 19.6

Educational attainment1

Less than a high school diploma .............. 28,243 2,793 9.9 13,659 1,141 8.4 14,584 1,652 11.3

High school graduate, no college2 ............ 59,241 12,882 21.7 27,666 4,985 18.0 31,575 7,896 25.0

Less than a bachelor’s degree3 ................ 46,786 15,966 34.1 21,341 6,146 28.8 25,444 9,819 38.6

College graduates .................................... 51,530 23,481 45.6 25,999 10,750 41.3 25,531 12,731 49.9

Marital status

Single, never married ............................... 60,017 13,670 22.8 31,962 5,953 18.6 28,055 7,718 27.5

Married, spouse present ........................... 118,986 40,486 34.0 59,925 18,155 30.3 59,061 22,331 37.8

Other marital status4 ................................. 42,775 9,635 22.5 14,856 2,697 18.2 27,919 6,938 24.9

Presence of own children

under 18 years5

Without own children under 18 ................. 155,359 38,907 25.0 77,121 16,969 22.0 78,238 21,938 28.0

With own children under 18 ...................... 66,420 24,884 37.5 29,623 9,836 33.2 36,797 15,049 40.9

Employment status

Civilian labor force .................................... 147,322 45,499 30.9 78,854 21,231 26.9 68,468 24,268 35.4

 Employed ................................................ 138,477 43,138 31.2 74,155 20,247 27.3 64,322 22,890 35.6

 Full time6 .............................................. 113,636 33,599 29.6 65,952 17,741 26.9 47,684 15,857 33.3

 Part time7 .............................................. 24,841 9,539 38.4 8,203 2,506 30.5 16,638 7,033 42.3

 Unemployed ........................................... 8,844 2,361 26.7 4,699 983 20.9 4,146 1,378 33.2

Not in the labor force ................................ 74,457 18,293 24.6 27,890 5,574 20.0 46,567 12,719 27.3

1 Data refer to persons 25 years and over. 2 Includes high school diploma or equivalent. 3 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree. 4 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons. 5 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. 

Not included are nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated

children. 6 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.

7 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.

 NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer

activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2002, through the

survey period in September 2003. Estimates for the above race groups (white,

black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not

presented for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity

as well as by race.
Table 2. Volunteers by annual hours of volunteer activities and selected characteristics, September 2003

Characteristics in September 2003

Total

volunteers

(thousands)

Percent distribution of total annual hours spent volunteering at all

organizations

Median

annual

hours1

Total 1 to 14

hour(s)

15 to 49

hours

50 to 99

hours

100 to

499 hours

500 hours

and over

Not

reporting

annual

hours

Sex

Total, both sexes ...................................... 63,791 100.0 20.9 24.6 14.9 28.1 5.6 5.8 52

 Men ......................................................... 26,805 100.0 20.5 24.7 14.4 28.2 6.0 6.2 52

 Women ................................................... 36,987 100.0 21.2 24.5 15.2 28.1 5.4 5.6 52

Age

Total, 16 years and over ........................... 63,791 100.0 20.9 24.6 14.9 28.1 5.6 5.8 52

 16 to 24 years ......................................... 8,671 100.0 22.8 27.2 14.7 23.6 4.3 7.4 40

 16 to 19 years ...................................... 4,758 100.0 22.8 28.6 15.2 22.5 3.8 7.1 40

 20 to 24 years ...................................... 3,912 100.0 22.9 25.5 14.2 25.0 4.8 7.6 45

 25 years and over ................................... 55,121 100.0 20.6 24.2 14.9 28.8 5.8 5.6 52

 25 to 34 years ...................................... 10,337 100.0 27.1 26.8 14.3 22.4 3.9 5.5 36

 35 to 44 years ...................................... 15,165 100.0 21.4 25.9 15.3 28.1 4.9 4.5 50

 45 to 54 years ...................................... 13,302 100.0 20.2 23.7 15.2 29.3 5.8 5.9 52

 55 to 64 years ...................................... 8,170 100.0 18.3 23.2 14.8 31.0 6.9 5.7 60

 65 years and over ................................ 8,146 100.0 14.1 19.5 14.7 35.5 9.1 7.2 88

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

White ........................................................ 55,572 100.0 20.7 24.9 14.9 28.4 5.5 5.5 52

Black or African American ........................ 5,145 100.0 20.9 20.8 14.6 27.7 6.6 9.4 52

Asian ......................................................... 1,735 100.0 26.4 25.3 14.5 25.5 3.3 5.0 40

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ....................... 4,364 100.0 23.8 25.8 14.2 24.0 4.9 7.4 40

Educational attainment2

Less than a high school diploma .............. 2,793 100.0 24.8 21.5 13.4 24.8 5.5 9.9 48

High school graduate, no college3 ............ 12,882 100.0 23.6 24.4 13.9 26.4 5.6 6.1 48

Less than a bachelor’s degree4 ................ 15,966 100.0 21.1 23.8 14.4 28.8 6.1 5.9 52

College graduates .................................... 23,481 100.0 18.3 24.6 16.0 30.7 5.9 4.6 60

Marital status

Single, never married ............................... 13,670 100.0 23.0 26.5 14.6 23.7 4.8 7.4 42

Married, spouse present ........................... 40,486 100.0 20.0 24.2 15.2 29.6 5.6 5.3 52

Other marital status5 ................................. 9,635 100.0 21.9 23.3 13.7 28.1 7.0 6.0 52

Presence of own children

 under 18 years6

Men:

 No own children under 18 years old ....... 16,969 100.0 20.4 24.3 14.5 27.4 6.5 6.9 52

 With own children under 18 years old .... 9,836 100.0 20.8 25.4 14.3 29.5 5.1 5.0 52

Women:

 No own children under 18 years old ....... 21,938 100.0 20.3 23.9 14.7 29.0 5.9 6.2 52

 With own children under 18 years old .... 15,049 100.0 22.5 25.4 16.0 26.8 4.6 4.7 48

Employment status

Civilian labor force .................................... 45,499 100.0 22.5 25.6 14.9 26.9 4.8 5.3 48

 Employed ................................................ 43,138 100.0 22.5 25.6 14.9 26.9 4.7 5.4 48

 Full time7 .............................................. 33,599 100.0 22.8 26.2 14.7 26.5 4.4 5.4 48

 Part time8 .............................................. 9,539 100.0 21.4 23.6 15.5 28.4 5.8 5.3 52

 Unemployed ........................................... 2,361 100.0 22.2 26.0 14.4 26.8 6.6 3.9 48

Not in the labor force ................................ 18,293 100.0 17.1 22.0 14.9 31.1 7.7 7.2 66

1 For those reporting annual hours. 2 Data refer to persons 25 years and over. 3 Includes high school diploma or equivalent. 4 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree. 5 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons. 6 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. 

Not included are nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and

unrelated children. 7 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.

8 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.

 NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer

activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2002, through the

survey period in September 2003. Estimates for the above race groups (white,

black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not

presented for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity

as well as by race.
Table 3. Volunteers by number of organizations for which volunteer activities were performed

and selected characteristics, September 2003

Characteristics in September 2003

Total

volunteers

(thousands)

Percent distribution of the number of organizations for which

volunteer activities were performed

Total One Two Three Four

Five

or

more

Not reporting

number of

organizations

Sex

Total, both sexes ...................................... 63,791 100.0 69.2 19.2 7.4 2.4 1.6 0.3

 Men ......................................................... 26,805 100.0 71.2 17.9 6.9 2.1 1.7 .3

 Women ................................................... 36,987 100.0 67.8 20.1 7.7 2.6 1.6 .2

Age

Total, 16 years and over ........................... 63,791 100.0 69.2 19.2 7.4 2.4 1.6 .3

 16 to 24 years ......................................... 8,671 100.0 75.7 15.9 5.3 1.7 1.1 .3

 16 to 19 years ...................................... 4,758 100.0 74.0 16.5 5.7 2.3 1.1 .4

 20 to 24 years ...................................... 3,912 100.0 77.8 15.3 4.8 .9 1.0 .2

 25 years and over ................................... 55,121 100.0 68.2 19.7 7.7 2.5 1.7 .3

 25 to 34 years ...................................... 10,337 100.0 73.2 18.4 6.1 1.4 .7 .2

 35 to 44 years ...................................... 15,165 100.0 64.9 21.6 8.4 2.9 2.0 .2

 45 to 54 years ...................................... 13,302 100.0 66.8 20.4 8.0 2.7 1.8 .4

 55 to 64 years ...................................... 8,170 100.0 68.3 18.1 8.4 3.0 2.1 .2

 65 years and over ................................ 8,146 100.0 70.3 18.2 7.3 2.1 1.8 .2

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

White ........................................................ 55,572 100.0 68.0 19.7 7.9 2.5 1.7 .3

Black or African American ........................ 5,145 100.0 80.5 13.5 3.4 1.3 1.1 .3

Asian ......................................................... 1,735 100.0 75.7 19.8 3.2 .3 1.0 –

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ....................... 4,364 100.0 81.1 12.4 4.7 1.0 .6 .2

Educational attainment1

Less than a high school diploma .............. 2,793 100.0 87.2 9.5 2.1 .5 .5 .3

High school graduate, no college2 ............ 12,882 100.0 78.0 15.4 4.5 1.1 .7 .2

Less than a bachelor’s degree3 ................ 15,966 100.0 69.9 19.4 7.2 2.0 1.4 .2

College graduates .................................... 23,481 100.0 59.5 23.4 10.4 3.7 2.6 .3

Marital status

Single, never married ............................... 13,670 100.0 73.8 17.0 6.1 1.7 1.1 .3

Married, spouse present ........................... 40,486 100.0 67.2 20.2 8.1 2.4 1.8 .2

Other marital status4 ................................. 9,635 100.0 71.2 17.9 6.0 3.0 1.6 .3

Presence of own children

 under 18 years5

Men:

 No own children under 18 years old ....... 16,969 100.0 73.3 16.6 6.3 1.9 1.7 .3

 With own children under 18 years old .... 9,836 100.0 67.7 20.2 7.8 2.4 1.6 .3

Women:

 No own children under 18 years old ....... 21,938 100.0 70.2 18.7 7.2 2.2 1.5 .3

 With own children under 18 years old .... 15,049 100.0 64.4 22.1 8.6 3.1 1.7 .2

Employment status

Civilian labor force .................................... 45,499 100.0 68.7 19.4 7.5 2.4 1.7 .3

 Employed ................................................ 43,138 100.0 68.4 19.6 7.5 2.4 1.7 .3

 Full time6 .............................................. 33,599 100.0 69.0 19.4 7.2 2.3 1.7 .3

 Part time7 .............................................. 9,539 100.0 66.3 20.1 8.7 2.8 1.8 .2

 Unemployed ........................................... 2,361 100.0 73.7 16.9 6.4 2.0 1.1 –

Not in the labor force ................................ 18,293 100.0 70.6 18.5 7.1 2.2 1.4 .2

1 Data refer to persons 25 years and over. 2 Includes high school diploma or equivalent. 3 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and

associate degree. 4 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons. 5 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and

adopted children. Not included are nieces, nephews,

grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children. 6 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs. 7 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.

 NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed

unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from

September 1, 2002, through the survey period in September

2003. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or

African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data

are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose

ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race

and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race. 

Dash represents or rounds to zero.
Table 4. Volunteers by type of main organization for which volunteer activities were performed and selected

characteristics, September 2003

Characteristics in September 2003

Total

volunteers

(thousands)

Percent distribution of volunteers by type of main organization1

Total

Civic, political,

professional,

or international

Educational or

youth

service

Environmental or

animal

care

Hospital

or other

health

Public

safety Religious

Social or

community

service

Sport,

hobby,

cultural,

or arts

Other Not determined

Sex

Total, both sexes ........................... 63,791 100.0 6.4 27.4 1.7 8.2 1.2 34.6 11.8 4.1 3.1 1.5

 Men ......................................... 26,805 100.0 8.1 24.7 1.9 6.3 2.1 33.9 12.6 5.5 3.4 1.5

 Women ..................................... 36,987 100.0 5.2 29.3 1.5 9.6 .5 35.1 11.2 3.2 3.0 1.5

Age

Total, 16 years and over .................. 63,791 100.0 6.4 27.4 1.7 8.2 1.2 34.6 11.8 4.1 3.1 1.5

 16 to 24 years ............................. 8,671 100.0 4.6 31.9 2.4 8.6 1.3 29.1 13.4 4.0 3.0 1.7

 16 to 19 years ........................... 4,758 100.0 4.0 35.5 2.0 6.5 1.2 29.8 13.0 3.7 2.6 1.7

 20 to 24 years ........................... 3,912 100.0 5.4 27.5 2.9 11.2 1.5 28.3 13.8 4.3 3.5 1.8

 25 years and over ........................ 55,121 100.0 6.7 26.7 1.6 8.1 1.2 35.4 11.5 4.2 3.2 1.5

 25 to 34 years ........................... 10,337 100.0 5.3 35.1 1.7 8.4 1.6 29.7 10.7 3.3 2.8 1.4

 35 to 44 years ........................... 15,165 100.0 5.3 38.5 1.3 5.8 1.2 31.5 8.8 3.9 2.4 1.3

 45 to 54 years ........................... 13,302 100.0 6.3 27.2 2.1 8.0 1.2 35.3 10.6 4.5 3.2 1.5

 55 to 64 years ........................... 8,170 100.0 9.8 13.5 1.8 9.4 1.0 39.1 14.5 4.7 4.4 1.8

 65 years and over ...................... 8,146 100.0 8.4 6.4 .8 10.9 .7 46.5 16.3 4.5 3.8 1.6

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

White ......................................... 55,572 100.0 6.5 27.3 1.7 8.4 1.3 33.7 11.9 4.3 3.3 1.5

Black or African American ................ 5,145 100.0 5.0 27.4 .4 5.9 .5 44.7 10.5 1.7 1.8 2.1

Asian ......................................... 1,735 100.0 5.6 25.7 2.0 8.7 .4 38.0 10.5 5.2 3.5 .4

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ............... 4,364 100.0 5.8 38.5 .7 5.5 .6 32.4 9.6 1.9 3.5 1.7

Educational attainment2

Less than a high school diploma ......... 2,793 100.0 6.0 22.2 1.0 5.1 1.3 45.7 12.0 2.1 3.0 1.6

High school graduate, no college3 ....... 12,882 100.0 6.0 25.7 1.2 7.8 1.6 39.1 11.7 3.0 2.7 1.2

Less than a bachelor’s degree4 .......... 15,966 100.0 6.0 27.3 1.4 8.5 1.6 35.5 10.9 4.1 3.4 1.3

College graduates .......................... 23,481 100.0 7.6 27.3 2.0 8.4 .6 32.2 11.9 5.0 3.3 1.8

Marital status

Single, never married ...................... 13,670 100.0 6.1 29.3 2.6 9.7 1.3 26.6 13.8 4.7 3.7 2.0

Married, spouse present .................. 40,486 100.0 6.4 28.1 1.3 7.1 1.2 37.7 10.3 3.8 2.7 1.4

Other marital status5 ....................... 9,635 100.0 6.9 21.7 2.0 10.5 .9 32.7 15.2 4.5 4.2 1.2

Presence of own children

 under 18 years6

Men:

 No own children under 18 years old .... 16,969 100.0 9.6 18.2 2.3 7.4 2.0 34.3 15.0 5.3 4.2 1.7

 With own children under 18 years old .. 9,836 100.0 5.6 36.1 1.1 4.2 2.3 33.2 8.4 5.8 2.1 1.3

Women:

 No own children under 18 years old .... 21,938 100.0 6.4 17.0 2.2 12.8 .6 37.5 14.5 4.0 3.4 1.7

 With own children under 18 years old .. 15,049 100.0 3.4 47.2 .6 4.8 .4 31.6 6.5 2.0 2.3 1.2

Employment status

Civilian labor force ......................... 45,499 100.0 6.5 29.1 1.8 8.1 1.4 33.1 11.2 4.4 3.0 1.5

 Employed .................................. 43,138 100.0 6.6 28.8 1.8 8.1 1.4 33.2 11.2 4.4 3.0 1.5

 Full time7 ................................. 33,599 100.0 6.9 28.0 1.7 8.4 1.6 32.8 11.4 4.6 3.0 1.6

 Part time8 ................................ 9,539 100.0 5.4 31.7 1.9 7.2 .8 34.5 10.7 3.8 2.8 1.2

 Unemployed ............................... 2,361 100.0 5.3 34.2 3.1 7.8 .5 31.2 10.6 3.4 3.0 .9

Not in the labor force ...................... 18,293 100.0 6.1 23.2 1.3 8.4 .7 38.2 13.3 3.5 3.6 1.7

1 Main organization is defined as the organization for which the volunteer worked the

most hours during the year. See the Technical Note for more details. 2 Data refer to persons 25 years and over. 3 Includes high school diploma or equivalent. 4 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree. 5 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons. 6 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not

included are nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.

7 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs. 8 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.

 NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities

for an organization at any point from September 1, 2002, through the survey period in

September 2003. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American,

and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. In addition,

persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and,

therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.
Table 5. Volunteer activities for main organization for which activities were performed and selected characteristics, September 2003

Characteristics in September 2003

Total

volunteers

(thousands)

Percent distribution of volunteer activities for main organization1

Coach,

referee,

tutor, or

teach

Provide

information;

be an usher,

greeter, or

minister

Collect,

prepare,

distribute,

or serve

food

Collect,

make, or

distribute

clothing,

crafts, or

goods,

other

than food

Fundraise

or sell

items to

raise

money

Provide

counseling,

medical

care,fire/

EMS or

protective

services

Supply

transportation for

people

Provide

general

office

services

Provide

professional or

management

assistance

including

serving on a

board or

committee

Engage

in music,

performance, or

other

artistic

activities

Engage

in

general

labor

Other

Not

reporting

type of

activity

Sex

Total, both sexes ......................... 63,791 28.6 22.0 24.9 15.1 28.8 8.4 12.6 13.1 19.1 12.1 21.8 16.0 1.7

 Men ....................................... 26,805 30.9 22.5 19.2 10.1 25.6 9.6 13.3 9.8 21.6 10.4 26.9 15.1 1.9

 Women ................................... 36,987 26.9 21.7 28.9 18.8 31.2 7.5 12.1 15.4 17.3 13.2 18.1 16.7 1.6

Age

Total, 16 years and over ................ 63,791 28.6 22.0 24.9 15.1 28.8 8.4 12.6 13.1 19.1 12.1 21.8 16.0 1.7

 16 to 24 years ........................... 8,671 33.4 19.0 22.1 15.3 24.3 7.9 8.3 10.6 8.2 17.9 26.4 16.9 2.5

 16 to 19 years ......................... 4,758 32.5 17.5 22.5 15.5 24.5 5.3 6.8 10.0 6.2 19.0 29.8 17.4 2.0

 20 to 24 years ......................... 3,912 34.6 20.9 21.7 15.2 24.0 11.1 10.1 11.3 10.8 16.7 22.2 16.4 3.2

 25 years and over ...................... 55,121 27.8 22.5 25.3 15.1 29.6 8.5 13.3 13.4 20.8 11.1 21.0 15.9 1.6

 25 to 34 years ......................... 10,337 34.1 20.3 23.0 14.4 29.3 9.2 11.8 11.6 14.1 13.2 21.9 15.4 1.8

 35 to 44 years ......................... 15,165 35.5 19.4 24.7 14.9 32.4 7.3 15.2 12.8 19.2 11.7 21.9 15.2 1.6

 45 to 54 years ......................... 13,302 28.0 24.1 24.7 14.4 32.5 9.5 14.2 13.6 23.0 11.0 22.2 15.4 1.8

 55 to 64 years ......................... 8,170 20.6 25.4 26.6 15.2 27.4 9.8 12.4 15.3 28.2 9.3 21.3 16.7 1.5

 65 years and over .................... 8,146 12.5 25.7 28.9 17.5 22.0 6.9 11.1 15.0 21.5 9.6 16.3 17.8 1.2

Race and Hispanic or Latino

ethnicity

White ....................................... 55,572 28.5 21.7 24.7 15.2 29.5 8.1 12.6 12.9 19.8 11.7 22.2 16.2 1.6

Black or African American .............. 5,145 30.8 27.5 26.7 16.0 23.8 11.0 14.1 14.6 14.8 15.0 17.6 12.5 3.3

Asian ....................................... 1,735 24.8 17.3 22.4 10.5 23.6 8.1 8.9 13.2 13.7 10.5 17.7 21.3 1.1

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ............. 4,364 28.3 16.7 25.4 14.1 25.3 5.8 10.7 10.6 8.4 9.5 18.6 17.4 2.2

Educational attainment2

Less than a high school diploma ....... 2,793 16.6 16.6 29.1 12.9 22.0 3.8 10.2 7.1 6.5 8.7 23.6 19.1 1.9

High school graduate, no college3 ..... 12,882 23.0 20.4 29.4 15.4 28.6 7.0 13.2 12.1 14.4 9.4 21.6 16.2 1.3

Less than a bachelor’s degree4 ........ 15,966 27.8 22.9 26.1 16.5 29.9 8.8 14.9 14.1 18.5 11.8 23.1 17.0 1.6

College graduates ........................ 23,481 31.8 24.1 22.0 14.3 30.8 9.6 12.6 14.5 27.7 11.9 19.0 14.6 1.8

Marital status

Single, never married .................... 13,670 29.5 19.4 21.2 13.6 24.9 8.6 8.4 11.8 11.4 15.3 23.6 16.9 2.5

Married, spouse present ................ 40,486 30.0 22.9 25.4 15.4 30.8 8.6 14.2 13.4 22.5 11.3 22.0 15.0 1.5

Other marital status5 ..................... 9,635 21.3 22.3 27.6 16.1 26.3 7.4 11.7 13.6 15.9 10.7 18.4 19.0 1.4

Presence of own children

 under 18 years6

Men:

 No own children under 18 years old .. 16,969 24.0 23.2 19.6 10.4 24.3 9.6 11.4 10.3 21.7 10.8 27.1 16.7 2.0

 With own children under 18 years old 9,836 42.9 21.4 18.5 9.7 28.0 9.6 16.7 9.0 21.6 9.8 26.4 12.3 1.7

Women:

 No own children under 18 years old .. 21,938 22.0 23.7 28.2 18.0 27.1 8.5 9.6 15.5 17.8 12.9 17.8 16.7 1.7

 With own children under 18 years old 15,049 34.1 18.8 30.1 19.8 37.2 6.1 15.7 15.2 16.6 13.8 18.5 16.8 1.5

Employment status

Civilian labor force ....................... 45,499 31.0 22.4 23.7 14.2 30.3 9.1 13.2 12.4 20.3 12.1 22.5 15.3 1.6

 Employed ................................ 43,138 31.0 22.5 23.5 14.1 30.7 9.2 13.4 12.3 20.7 12.0 22.5 15.2 1.7

 Full time7 ............................... 33,599 30.6 22.6 22.8 13.4 31.2 9.4 13.3 11.7 21.9 11.1 22.7 14.9 1.7

 Part time8 .............................. 9,539 32.3 22.5 25.8 16.6 29.0 8.6 13.6 14.7 16.8 15.2 21.9 16.2 1.5

 Unemployed ............................. 2,361 31.4 20.5 26.2 15.1 23.1 7.0 10.6 13.3 12.6 13.8 22.9 16.9 1.4

Not in the labor force .................... 18,293 22.5 21.0 27.8 17.6 25.2 6.7 11.0 14.7 16.2 12.0 19.8 17.9 1.9

1 Main organization is defined as the organization for which the volunteer worked the most hours

during the year. See the Technical Note for more details. 2 Data refer to persons 25 years and over. 3 Includes high school diploma or equivalent. 4 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree. 5 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons. 6 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are

nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.

7 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs. 8 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.

 NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an

organization at any point from September 1, 2002, through the survey period in September 2003. 

Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals

because data are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race. 

Detail will sum to greater than 100 percent because respondents could choose more than one activity.
Table 6. Volunteers by how they became involved with main organization for which volunteer activities were

performed and selected characteristics, September 2003

Characteristics in September 2003

Total

volunteers

(thousands)

Percent distribution of how volunteers became involved with main organization1

Total

Approached

the

organization

Was asked by:

Other

Not

reporting

how

became

involved

Total2 Boss or

employer

Relative,

friend, or

co-worker

Someone in

the

organization/

school

Someone

else

Sex

Total, both sexes ..................................... 63,791 100.0 40.7 43.6 1.2 14.4 26.8 1.0 13.4 2.3

 Men ................................................... 26,805 100.0 40.6 44.3 1.2 15.9 26.0 1.1 12.8 2.3

 Women ............................................... 36,987 100.0 40.9 43.0 1.1 13.3 27.4 1.0 13.8 2.3

Age

Total, 16 years and over ............................ 63,791 100.0 40.7 43.6 1.2 14.4 26.8 1.0 13.4 2.3

 16 to 24 years ....................................... 8,671 100.0 41.8 41.8 1.0 16.6 22.5 1.5 13.8 2.7

 16 to 19 years ..................................... 4,758 100.0 41.7 41.4 .4 16.3 23.1 1.5 14.7 2.2

 20 to 24 years ..................................... 3,912 100.0 41.8 42.2 1.8 16.9 21.7 1.4 12.7 3.3

 25 years and over .................................. 55,121 100.0 40.6 43.8 1.2 14.0 27.5 1.0 13.4 2.2

 25 to 34 years ..................................... 10,337 100.0 39.3 44.3 1.7 14.9 26.4 1.2 14.3 2.1

 35 to 44 years ..................................... 15,165 100.0 41.0 44.2 1.4 13.0 28.9 .8 12.6 2.1

 45 to 54 years ..................................... 13,302 100.0 40.6 43.6 1.2 13.7 27.7 .7 13.3 2.5

 55 to 64 years ..................................... 8,170 100.0 40.3 43.2 1.1 14.4 26.2 1.1 14.3 2.3

 65 years and over ................................ 8,146 100.0 41.7 43.7 .2 14.8 27.4 1.2 12.6 2.1

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

White ................................................... 55,572 100.0 40.8 43.8 1.1 14.4 27.1 1.0 13.2 2.2

Black or African American .......................... 5,145 100.0 39.2 41.7 2.0 13.5 25.3 1.0 15.6 3.5

Asian ................................................... 1,735 100.0 48.2 38.7 1.3 12.1 23.3 2.0 11.1 2.0

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ......................... 4,364 100.0 38.2 46.8 1.1 15.6 29.1 .9 12.6 2.4

Educational attainment3

Less than a high school diploma ................... 2,793 100.0 38.6 46.2 .4 15.5 29.4 .6 12.8 2.4

High school graduate, no college4 ................. 12,882 100.0 39.1 45.9 .9 15.4 28.6 .8 13.2 1.8

Less than a bachelor’s degree5 .................... 15,966 100.0 40.9 42.7 1.3 13.7 26.3 1.2 14.2 2.2

College graduates .................................... 23,481 100.0 41.4 43.2 1.3 13.2 27.5 1.0 12.9 2.4

Marital status

Single, never married ................................ 13,670 100.0 41.0 41.4 1.3 16.9 21.6 1.4 14.5 3.0

Married, spouse present ............................ 40,486 100.0 40.9 44.4 1.1 13.2 29.0 .9 12.7 2.0

Other marital status6 ................................. 9,635 100.0 39.8 43.0 1.4 15.5 25.1 .9 15.1 2.1

Presence of own children

 under 18 years7

Men:

 No own children under 18 years old .............. 16,969 100.0 40.7 43.6 1.2 16.7 24.3 1.1 13.6 2.2

 With own children under 18 years old ............ 9,836 100.0 40.4 45.6 1.2 14.4 28.9 1.0 11.6 2.3

Women:

 No own children under 18 years old .............. 21,938 100.0 40.9 42.0 1.2 15.2 24.3 1.0 14.7 2.4

 With own children under 18 years old ............ 15,049 100.0 40.8 44.5 1.1 10.5 32.0 .9 12.6 2.1

Employment status

Civilian labor force ................................... 45,499 100.0 40.0 44.2 1.5 14.6 26.9 .9 13.6 2.3

 Employed ............................................ 43,138 100.0 39.9 44.2 1.6 14.6 27.0 .9 13.6 2.3

 Full time8 ........................................... 33,599 100.0 39.3 45.0 1.9 15.4 26.6 .8 13.3 2.4

 Part time9 .......................................... 9,539 100.0 42.0 41.6 .6 11.5 28.2 1.2 14.5 1.9

 Unemployed ......................................... 2,361 100.0 40.4 43.7 1.0 15.6 25.4 1.4 13.7 2.2

Not in the labor force ................................ 18,293 100.0 42.7 41.9 .2 13.7 26.6 1.2 13.1 2.3

1 Main organization is defined as the organization for which the volunteer worked the

most hours during the year. See the Technical Note for more details. 2 Includes persons who did not specify who asked them to volunteer, not shown

separately. 3 Data refer to persons 25 years and over. 4 Includes high school diploma or equivalent. 5 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree. 6 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons. 7 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not

included are nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children. 8 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs. 9 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.

 NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities

for an organization at any point from September 1, 2002, through the survey period in

September 2003. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American,

and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. In addition,

persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and,

therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.
Table 7. Main reason for not volunteering last year as reported by non-volunteers who had volunteered in the past by selected

characteristics, September 2003

Characteristics in September 2003 Total

(thousands)1

Percent distribution of main reason for not volunteering

Total

Burnout/

not

enjoyable

previously

Family

responsibilities or

childcare

problems

Health or

medical

problems

Lack of

time

No one

asked

No longer a

member of

the

organization

Wasn’t

interested

Moved, lack of

information,

transportation,

or expenses2

No longer

required/

not

relevant to

current life

situation

Other

Not reporting

reason for

not

volunteering

Sex

Total, both sexes ........................... 36,299 100.0 2.4 9.5 14.7 44.7 3.2 1.7 4.3 4.2 5.8 8.2 1.3

 Men ......................................... 15,878 100.0 2.5 5.9 11.1 49.8 3.9 2.2 4.9 4.1 5.7 8.5 1.4

 Women ..................................... 20,421 100.0 2.3 12.3 17.4 40.8 2.6 1.4 3.9 4.3 5.8 8.0 1.2

Age

Total, 16 years and over .................. 36,299 100.0 2.4 9.5 14.7 44.7 3.2 1.7 4.3 4.2 5.8 8.2 1.3

 16 to 24 years ............................. 4,406 100.0 1.2 5.3 1.4 62.2 3.2 2.4 4.2 7.3 3.2 8.4 1.2

 16 to 19 years ........................... 1,362 100.0 1.3 2.6 .9 56.5 4.8 4.6 5.5 6.3 5.8 9.8 1.8

 20 to 24 years ........................... 3,044 100.0 1.2 6.5 1.7 64.7 2.5 1.4 3.6 7.7 2.0 7.8 .9

 25 years and over ........................ 31,893 100.0 2.6 10.1 16.5 42.3 3.2 1.6 4.3 3.8 6.1 8.2 1.3

 25 to 34 years ........................... 6,015 100.0 1.7 14.7 1.7 60.6 3.0 1.0 3.0 4.6 2.1 6.2 1.3

 35 to 44 years ........................... 5,979 100.0 2.4 12.5 5.2 55.0 3.5 1.4 2.8 4.5 4.0 7.6 1.2

 45 to 54 years ........................... 7,274 100.0 2.6 8.4 8.8 48.5 2.9 2.3 3.8 3.9 9.1 7.8 1.7

 55 to 64 years ........................... 5,403 100.0 3.3 8.5 14.0 41.1 4.0 2.2 5.7 4.0 8.3 7.6 1.2

 65 years and over ...................... 7,224 100.0 2.8 7.1 47.7 11.3 2.6 1.2 6.2 2.4 6.6 11.0 1.0

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

White ......................................... 31,364 100.0 2.5 9.4 14.6 44.8 3.0 1.8 4.4 4.0 6.0 8.2 1.2

Black or African American ................ 3,036 100.0 2.3 10.0 18.8 41.6 4.3 .8 4.3 5.3 3.8 7.3 1.5

Asian ......................................... 1,046 100.0 .4 10.8 6.5 53.5 3.4 .7 1.9 5.6 6.1 8.5 2.5

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ............... 2,357 100.0 1.5 12.2 11.1 50.1 2.7 1.6 2.8 4.8 5.4 6.5 1.2

Educational attainment3

Less than a high school diploma ......... 2,819 100.0 1.3 8.0 42.4 19.7 3.7 2.2 4.0 2.8 6.9 7.6 1.2

High school graduate, no college4 ....... 9,322 100.0 3.1 9.9 19.7 36.0 4.2 1.8 4.5 3.7 7.3 8.6 1.3

Less than a bachelor’s degree5 .......... 9,276 100.0 2.6 11.2 13.9 42.4 2.9 2.0 4.4 4.6 6.4 8.4 1.2

College graduates .......................... 10,476 100.0 2.4 9.8 8.9 54.0 2.4 1.0 4.3 3.4 4.6 7.7 1.5

Marital status

Single, never married ...................... 8,339 100.0 2.0 4.6 5.2 59.2 3.6 1.8 4.7 5.8 3.0 8.7 1.5

Married, spouse present .................. 19,617 100.0 2.7 12.4 12.4 44.2 3.2 1.8 4.2 3.5 6.9 7.5 1.3

Other marital status6 ....................... 8,343 100.0 2.1 7.6 29.5 31.6 2.8 1.4 4.3 4.3 5.9 9.4 1.1

Presence of own children

 under 18 years7

Men:

 No own children under 18 years old .... 12,207 100.0 2.9 3.6 13.7 46.3 4.2 2.3 5.7 4.5 6.4 9.2 1.4

 With own children under 18 years old .. 3,670 100.0 1.4 13.5 2.5 61.4 2.7 1.9 2.1 3.1 3.5 6.1 1.7

Women:

 No own children under 18 years old .... 15,464 100.0 2.5 7.2 21.6 38.5 2.7 1.5 4.6 4.5 6.5 9.1 1.3

 With own children under 18 years old .. 4,957 100.0 1.6 28.0 4.3 47.8 2.6 1.0 1.8 3.7 3.8 4.6 .9

Employment status

Civilian labor force ......................... 24,577 100.0 2.2 9.4 2.8 58.0 3.3 1.8 3.7 4.3 5.5 7.7 1.4

 Employed .................................. 23,228 100.0 2.2 9.3 2.8 59.0 3.2 1.8 3.6 4.1 5.4 7.4 1.3

 Full time8 ................................. 19,182 100.0 2.3 8.6 2.1 60.9 3.2 1.7 3.3 4.0 5.2 7.2 1.4

 Part time9 ................................ 4,046 100.0 1.5 13.1 5.7 50.0 3.1 1.9 4.8 4.2 6.4 8.2 1.1

 Unemployed ............................... 1,349 100.0 2.6 10.7 2.8 40.2 5.9 2.0 5.3 9.0 7.3 12.2 2.0

Not in the labor force ...................... 11,722 100.0 2.8 9.7 39.6 17.0 2.9 1.6 5.7 4.0 6.3 9.3 1.1

1 Data refer to persons who did not volunteer during the survey reference period (September

2002-September 2003), but who had volunteered in the past. 2 Includes the categories lack of information about opportunities, lack of transportation, lack of

paid expenses, moved in the last year, and opportunities don’t match interest or skills. 3 Data refer to persons 25 years and over. 4 Includes high school diploma or equivalent. 5 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree. 6 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons. 7 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are

nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children. 8 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs. 9 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.

 NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an

organization at any point from September 1, 2002, through the survey period in September 2003.

Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals

because data are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.