September
2006
September 15, 2006
Did You Know?
American Volunteerism is on the Rise
The number of American volunteers increased from 59.5 million in 2002 to 65.4 million in 2005, according to a study from the Corporation for National and Community Service. At first glance, this increase appears to be a victory for non-profits that rely on a volunteer workforce. The study provides a closer look at this increase, and the information offers some insight into arts volunteering within the context of this national boom.
The study reveals that, despite the increase in volunteers, the national volunteering rate remained steady at 28.8% between 2003 and 2005. State volunteer rates ranged from 48% in Utah, to 18.8% in Nevada. The Corporation also noted that nearly a third of these people volunteered between 100 to 499 hours in 2005 and half of the volunteers reported working at least 50 hours.
Rank
|
State
|
Rate
|
Rank
|
State
|
Rate
|
Rank
|
State
|
Rate
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
Utah
|
48.0%
|
18
|
Michigan
|
32.1%
|
35
|
South Carolina
|
28.0%
|
2
|
Nebraska
|
42.8%
|
19
|
New Hampshire
|
32.0%
|
36
|
Massachusetts
|
27.0%
|
3
|
Minnesota
|
40.7%
|
20
|
Missouri
|
31.9%
|
37
|
Delaware
|
26.7%
|
4
|
Iowa
|
39.2%
|
21
|
Connecticut
|
30.8%
|
38
|
New Jersey
|
26.5%
|
5
|
Alaska
|
38.9%
|
21
|
Pennsylvania
|
30.8%
|
39
|
Mississippi
|
26.4%
|
6
|
Wyoming
|
38.8%
|
21
|
D.C.
|
30.8%
|
40
|
California
|
26.1%
|
6
|
South Dakota
|
38.8%
|
24
|
Ohio
|
30.7%
|
41
|
Georgia
|
25.9%
|
8
|
Kansas
|
38.6%
|
25
|
Maryland
|
30.3%
|
41
|
Tennessee
|
25.9%
|
9
|
Vermont
|
38.1%
|
26
|
Oklahoma
|
30.0%
|
43
|
Arkansas
|
25.6%
|
10
|
Montana
|
37.9%
|
27
|
Kentucky
|
29.8%
|
44
|
Hawaii
|
25.4%
|
11
|
Wisconsin
|
37.0%
|
28
|
Illinois
|
29.7%
|
45
|
Rhode Island
|
24.9%
|
12
|
Washington
|
36.8%
|
29
|
Indiana
|
29.5%
|
45
|
Arizona
|
24.9%
|
13
|
North Dakota
|
36.5%
|
30
|
North Carolina
|
29.1%
|
47
|
West Virginia
|
24.6%
|
14
|
Idaho
|
35.5%
|
31
|
Virginia
|
29.0%
|
48
|
Florida
|
24.1%
|
15
|
Oregon
|
33.6%
|
32
|
Alabama
|
28.9%
|
49
|
Louisiana
|
22.7%
|
16
|
Maine
|
33.2%
|
33
|
New Mexico
|
28.5%
|
50
|
New York
|
21.3%
|
17
|
Colorado
|
32.8%
|
34
|
Texas
|
28.3%
|
51
|
Nevada
|
18.8%
|
The Corporation found that only 3.3% of volunteers donate time to the combined category for arts, cultural, sports and hobby organizations. This combined category reported the second lowest percentage of volunteers, trailed only by public safety organizations. Religious organizations attracted over a third of the volunteers, while over a quarter of volunteers contributed to educational or youth service. According to The Corporation, the largest percentage of these volunteers coached or mentored for their organization and a slightly smaller percentage provided administrative and fundraising services. The lowest percentage of volunteers collected, made, or distributed clothing, crafts or goods other than food.
In this Issue
Legislative Update
Executive Director's Column
Did You Know?
Frequently Asked Questions
SubscribeSubscribe
×
To receive information regarding updates to our newslettter. Please fill out the form below.