As President Bush Calls for New Spirit of Civic Engagement, the Value of Volunteer Time Continues to Climb

2/15/2002

From: Carla Bundy or Patricia Nash, 202-467-6100, both of INDEPENDENT SECTOR; e-mail: Info@IndependentSector.org; Web site: http://www.IndependentSector.org/

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- As Americans heed the call for community service, the value of the time they will give to charitable organizations has climbed to $16.05 per hour, up from $15.39 in 2000.

INDEPENDENT SECTOR first developed the methodology to calculate the value of volunteer time in 1980, when it was $7.46. Since then, the rate has increased steadily. The hourly value is based on the average hourly earnings for private nonagricultural workers as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure is then increased by 12 percent to estimate fringe benefits.

According to INDEPENDENT SECTOR's Giving and Volunteering in the United States national survey: -- In 2000, nearly half of adults (44 percent) or 83.9 million people volunteered their time; -- Their work represents the equivalent of over 9 million full-time employees at a value of $239 billion; -- The average volunteer gave 3.6 hours of time per week; and -- The annual hours volunteered were 15.5 billion.

INDEPENDENT SECTOR found in a previous survey that: -- Eighty-five percent of nonprofit organizations and 92 percent of religious congregations use volunteers; -- Sixty-five percent of nonprofits and 82 percent of religious congregations provide training for their volunteers; and -- Eighty-six percent of nonprofits and 93 percent of religious congregations report they would use more volunteers if the volunteers had the skills needed.

Americans who volunteer four or more hours per week will reach the president's goal of 4,000 lifetime volunteering hours in less than 20 years. These Americans are already giving over 250 million hours per week to nonprofit organizations and causes.

"INDEPENDENT SECTOR is encouraged by the president's call for a new cadre of volunteers. Our research indicates that millions of Americans are on their way to reaching the president's goal," said Sara E. Melendez, president and CEO of INDEPENDENT SECTOR. "But while 44 percent of the population volunteers, the majority of the adult population remains an untapped resource," added Dr. Melendez.

INDEPENDENT SECTOR research shows that the best way to motivate people to volunteer is to simply ask them. If asked, 63 percent will volunteer, compared to 25 percent who volunteer when not asked.

"The president has asked the question. As many Americans contemplate what they can do to help the nation, we urge them to look in their own backyards and volunteer with a charity in their community. It's as simple as picking up the phone," said Dr. Melendez.

--- Volunteering in America Fact Sheet

-- Forty-four percent of adults volunteer. Of these volunteers, 69 percent report they volunteer on a regular basis, monthly or more often.

-- An estimated 83.9 million adults formally volunteered approximately 15.5 billion hours in 2000.

-- 85 percent of nonprofit organizations and 92 percent of religious congregations use volunteers. Sixty-five percent of nonprofits and 82 percent of congregations provide training for their volunteers.

-- 86 percent of nonprofits and 93 percent of congregations report that they would use more volunteers if the volunteers had the skills needed.

-- The formal volunteer workforce represented the equivalent of over 9 million full-time employees at an estimated value of $239 billion.

-- Volunteers to formal organizations average just over 24 hours per month or 3.6 hours per week of volunteering time. If these volunteers continue giving their time at this rate, they will reach 4,000 hours of volunteering in 21 years.

-- Americans report that being asked to volunteer makes a substantial difference in their willingness to give their time. If asked, 63 percent will volunteer, compared to 25 percent who volunteer when not asked. Fifty percent (50 percent) of Americans are asked to volunteer-leaving another 50 percent who are an untapped resource.

-- Volunteers are also the most generous givers. On average, volunteers give more than twice as much as other contributors who don't volunteer.

-- People who regularly attend religious services volunteer at much higher rates. Fifty-four percent (54 percent) of regular attendees volunteer, compared to 32 percent of those who do not regularly attend religious services.

-- Women are more likely to volunteer than men (46 percent and 42 percent, respectively).

-- 59 percent of teenagers volunteer an average of 3.5 hours per week, totaling 2.4 billion hours of volunteer time annually.

-- 28 percent of Americans volunteer with family members -- about half of all volunteers. Family volunteers are much more likely to give more hours regularly than other volunteers.

Sources: INDEPENDENT SECTOR's Giving and Volunteering in the United States national survey and the Measures Survey.

Note: All volunteering numbers are for individual adults over the age of 21 who report service for an organization (excluding informal volunteering).

------ INDEPENDENT SECTOR is a nonprofit nonpartisan coalition of more than 700 national organizations, foundations and corporate philanthropy programs, collectively representing tens of thousands of charitable groups in every state across the nation. Its mission is to promote, strengthen, and advance the nonprofit and philanthropic community to foster private initiative for the public good.