• It is estimated that 93 million people (adults 18 years and older) volunteered in 1995. This represents an increase of 4 million over the 89 million adults who volunteered in 1993. This reverses the steady decline in adult volunteering as first reported in the 1991 biannual study done by the Independent Sector and the Gallup Organization.
• In 1995, volunteers gave an average of 4.2 hours per week – the same as in 1993.
• 49 percent of respondents to the 1996 Survey of Trends in Giving and Volunteering produced by the Independent Sector and the Gallup Organization volunteered in 1995 representing a slight increase from the 48 percent who reported volunteering in 1993.
• Volunteers gave an estimated total of 20.3 billion hours in both formal and informal volunteering in 1995.
• People volunteering formally in 1995 gave 15.7 billion hours – a 5 percent increase over the 15 billion hours of formal volunteering in 1991. The 15.7 billion hours reported in 1995 represent the equivalent of 9.2 million full-time volunteers, compared with 8.8 million equivalent full-time volunteers in 1993.
• Americans who volunteered informally (e.g. helping out a neighbor, watching neighborhood children after school for free) gave 4.6 billion hours in 1995, a 2 percent increase over the 4.5 billion hours given in 1993.
• The value of volunteer time is estimated at $201 billion in 1995 compared with $182 billion in 1993.
• The current assigned hourly wage (1996) for volunteers is $13.24. In 1995 the value assigned was $12.84 and in 1993 $12.13.
• Groups showing increases of 5 percent or higher in volunteering from 1993 to 1995:
• African-American
• Persons of Hispanic origin
• Persons between the ages of 25 and 34
• Respondents with household incomes between $75,000 and $100,000
• Catholics
• Those with no religious affiliation
• Persons not employed
• Declines of 5 percent or more:
• Respondents 18 to 24 years of age
• Respondents in the household income group between $20,000 and $40,000

Characteristics of people 18 or older volunteering

In the 12 months previous to May 1996:

Gender:

Men: 45 percent

Women: 52 percent

Race:

White: 52 percent

Non-white: 36 percent

Black: 35 percent

Hispanic: 40 percent (may be of any race)

Age:

18–24: 38 percent

25–34: 51 percent

35–44: 55 percent

45–54: 55 percent

55–64: 48 percent

65–74: 45 percent

75+ : 34 percent

Employment Status:

Employed: 52 percent

Full-time: 50 percent

Part-time: 58 percent

Not employed: 46 percent

Retired: 40 percent

Education:

High school or less: 36 percent

Technical, trade

school or some

college: 54 percent

College graduate: 71 percent

Taken from the Trends in Giving and Volunteering Study conducted by the Independent Sector with the Gallup Organization and released October 9, 1996. This survey was conducted in 1995 and is the latest in a series of biannual surveys produced by the Independent Sector.

Points of Light Foundation Research

In the Fall 1994, the board of directors of The Points of Light Foundation authorized a national survey on volunteering for serious social problems. This is the first such survey ever undertaken. Its results reflect the commitment of America's volun­teers to addressing many of our most difficult problems. A total of 1,340 adults participated in telephone interviews, 888 of which participated in two interviews.

• 85% of those now doing volunteer work are doing so on one or more serious social problems. This translates into 35 million households in which at least one adult is volunteering to address serious social problems.
• Half of the people not currently engaged in service say they that they are likely to do volunteer work in the future.
• 55% who volunteer for serious social problems, report helping the elderly.
• 46% of volunteers report volunteering for a child or youth related problem.
• 74% of those who volunteer for serious social problems often work directly with the people in need.

Demographically:

• Women are more likely to work with children with learning disabilities and pregnant teenagers and teen mothers. Men are more likely to volunteer in programs related to alcohol abuse.
• Women, more than men: serve on board and committees; provide companionship; tutor; child-care or substitute parenting; make, deliver, or serve meals; and office work.
• Men, more than women: counseling/advice; recreation; neighborhood clean-up; and planning, administration, and leadership.

Source: 1995 survey data conducted by The Points of Light Foundation in conjunction with

The Gallup International Institute.

Trends in Youth and Service-Learning

• Youth who have been through service-learning experiences say that it is likely that they will continue to participate in volunteer activities over the next 5 years.
• 82% of youth in service-learning will help a person in need.
• 74% of youth in service-learning will change what they do to protect the environment and 71% will actively try to keep the environment safe.
• 72% will volunteer to tutor children, visit the elderly, serve as a mentor, or coach.

Source: 1994 survey data conducted by Search Institute, in cooperation with National Youth Leadership Council as part of the National Service-Learning Initiative.

Trends in Corporate Volunteerism

• 92% of corporate executives surveyed encouraged their employees to become involved in community service.
• 77% of companies that were surveyed agreed that volunteer programs benefit corporate strategic goals.
• Approximately 80% of volunteer programs improve employee retention and enhance training.
• Approximately 90% of volunteer programs build teamwork skills, improve morale, and attract better employees.
• 50% of the respondents have made community service a part of their company's mission statement.
• 31% of respondents claim to use volunteer programs as part of the strategy to address critical business issues.
• 72% of the companies report ongoing endorsement of volunteer programs by their CEO's.
• More than 50% of the participants acknowledged connection between corporate volunteer programs and profitability. Even more register stronger agreement to factors that affect profitability (morale, teamwork, productivity).

Source: Corporate Volunteer Programs: Benefits to Business.

Sponsored by The Conference Board and The Points of Light Foundation

Report No. 1029

Trends In Family Volunteerism

To gain insight as to the effect of American traditions toward community service and volunteering on American families, the Family Matters program of The Points of Light Foundation sponsored a mini-survey among a nationally representative sample of 1,002 American households. In each interview, the Gallup International Institute asked whether the household member and at least one other member of their family did volunteer work together.

• In more than 36% of American households family volunteering is a part of family life. This is equally true in young families (adult is aged 18–34), middle years (aged 35–49), and older families (aged 50 or older).
• Family volunteering is most likely in middle income households-- those where the family income is between $20,000 and $49,999. Family volunteering is occurring in 45% of these families compared to 18% of lower income households and 23% of higher income households.
• The most common partnership in families for volunteering is between husband and wife – 60%.
• 75% of volunteers between the ages of 18–34 say they do their work with some other adult, not their spouse.
• In 22% of households, adults are volunteering together with one or more of their own children who are younger than age 12.
• 17% of adults volunteer with one or more of their own children who are between the ages of 12–17.
• 35% of adults in their middle years (35–49) volunteer with their children under or over age 12.
• 14% of families that volunteer together, started volunteering when the child encouraged the parent to become involved.

Source: „Family Volunteering“

Conducted by: Gallup International Institute in cooperation with The Family Matters Program of The Points of Light Foundation