The Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) released their annual Volunteering in America (VIA) survey; it indicates that while volunteerism rates have been affected negatively by the economic climate, 2009 saw the greatest spike in volunteering since 2003.

“The Volunteering in America results show the power the President has to call our citizens to serve,” said David B. Smith, NCoC Executive Director. “Our last Civic Health Index recorded the civic pullback seen as the markets collapsed and unemployment skyrocketed. This rebound in engagement can largely be attributed to the passing of the Serve America Act and the United We Serve campaign.”

There has been a recent push from government organizations, such as the White House and CNCS, to increase volunteerism within the US. The 2010 Volunteering in America (VIA) survey illustrates the success of these efforts. In 2009, 63.4 million Americans (age 16 and older) volunteered, an increase of almost 1.6 million since 2008. This has been the largest single-year increase in volunteering since 2003. The 2009 volunteer rate increased from 26.4 percent in 2008 to 26.8 percent, the highest since 2005.

The survey also indicated that the increase in volunteerism could be seen throughout the population spectrum. Minority groups have historically had lesser volunteer rates than whites. A Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) study showed that African-American volunteering was at about 5 million in 2007, or 18.2 percent. However, VIA indicates that the number of African American volunteers reached 5.7 million in 2009, or 20.2 percent. This substantial increase has been attributed to the increase in volunteering amongst African American women, who have jumped from 21.2 percent in 2008 to 22.8 percent in 2009. This 1.6 percent increase in volunteering is over three times higher than the .5 percent increase among the overall U.S. population.

The widespread increase of volunteerism in the US can be attributed to what the VIA calls a “compassion boom.” Not only have volunteering rates significantly increased, but citizens are also giving through several other avenues. Corporate giving is now at an all-time high, and AmeriCorps applications have tripled in the past year.

“The good heart of America is stronger than ever today,” said Michael Weiser, NCoC Chairman. “It’s great to see citizens stepping up to serve in these tumultuous times.”

This demonstration of “America’s good heart” in tough economic times was also underscored by findings in the 2009 America’s Civic Health Index (CHI). The CHI showed 50 percent of people had given food or money to a non-relative in need. Further, Americans were opening their homes to those in need—1 in 9 people allowed a non-relative to live in their home or on their property.

These results are encouraging to hear amidst a time of an economic hardship that is affecting millions. The 2009 CHI indicated that 20 percent of households reported the loss of a job by one of its members. Thirty-one percent had trouble affording food or medication. However, VIA has shown that Americans are now turning to community volunteering to address issues in poverty, illiteracy, crime and homelessness. It also demonstrates the economic power of volunteerism. Volunteers donated almost 8.1 billion hours in 2009. The dollar value of this time was nearly $169 billion, which is a substantial increase from $162 billion in 2008.


For more information on the Volunteering in America findings, visit www.VolunteeringInAmerica.gov.