New Stats on Volunteers in America

A new study, Volunteering and Civic Life in America, issued by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in partnership with the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) found that:

• In 2011, the number of volunteers reached its highest level in five years, as 64.3 million Americans volunteered through an organization, an increase of 1.5 million from 2010.
• Americans volunteered a total of almost 8 billion hours, an estimated economic value of roughly $171 billion.
• Nearly three out of five volunteers aged 25-54 are parents to children who are under 18. These parents volunteered well above the national average, focusing on helping fill local needs while also serving as role models—showing their children that community involvement is a critical choice and habit that can improve lives.

The following infographics provide a closer look at how and where parents are volunteering:

If you are inspired by this blog to find new opportunities to volunteer, then we suggest you get started by reviewing our tip sheet, Guide To Volunteering.