Improving Lives. Improving Texas.

Volunteer Trends & Impact

An Overview for Extension Volunteer Administrators

Volunteering at a 30-Year High

• Adult volunteering rate increased by more than 32% since 1989

• Growth is driven by three age groups:– Older teenagers (ages 16 to 19)– Mid-life adults (ages 45 to 64)– Older adults (65 years old and

over)Source: Reingold, D. and Nesbit, R. (2006). Volunteer Growth in America: A Review of Trends Since 1974.

Volunteering in America

Volunteer Rates in 2008• 61.8 million Americans

volunteered– 26.4% of the adult population– 8 billion hours of service– 34.7 hours per resident – Valued at $162 billion

Source: Corporation for National & Community Service, www.volunteeringinamerica.gov

Volunteering in Texas

• More than 7% of the nation’s volunteers are in Texas.

• 4.4 million volunteers

• 25.2% of residents volunteer

• 578.1 million hours of service

• 32.8 hours per resident

• $11.7 billion of service contributedSource: Corporation for National & Community Service, www.volunteeringinamerica.gov

Where People Volunteer (2006-2008)

Source: Corporation for National & Community Service, www.volunteeringinamerica.gov

Neighborhood Engagement

• Less formal ways of serving in communities has increased – 31% more Americans

worked with their neighbor to fix a community problem

– 17% more Americans attended community meetings

Source: Corporation for National & Community Service, www.volunteeringinamerica.gov

Teenage Volunteers

• Growing trend to include community service and service-learning in schools

• 69.7% college freshmen believe in helping others in need

• Primarily interested in episodic volunteering

• More likely to serve with educational or youth service organizations (religious – 2nd)

Source: Reingold, D. & Nesbit, R. (2006)

Baby Boomer Volunteers

• The primary reason for an increase in volunteering among mid-life Americans, with two explanations:– Higher levels of education– Delays in marriage and childbearing

• More likely to volunteer with religious organizations

Source: Reingold, D. & Nesbit, R. (2006)

Older Adult Volunteers

• Most likely to volunteer 100 or more hours a year

• Health Benefits for volunteers:– Greater life satisfaction– Lower rates of depression– Higher levels of happiness, self-

esteem, physical health and a sense of control over life

– Lower mortality rates

Source: Reingold, D. & Nesbit, R. (2006).Corporation for National & Community Service (2007).

Episodic Volunteers

• Episodic volunteering is largely driven by baby boomers and teenagers

• Catastrophes increase “short-term” opportunities

• Organizations are developing shorter, more flexible volunteer opportunities

Source: Reingold, D. & Nesbit, R. (2006)

Why are volunteers important?• More than 80% of non-profit organizations rely on

volunteers

• Volunteers do about 1/3 of the work of all non-profits

• More than 1/3 of non-profit organizations report increasing the number of volunteers they use

• Half of non-profit organizations foresee increasing their usage of volunteers

• If all volunteers were paid, they would cost non-profits over $225 billion per year

Extension Volunteer Trends

2004 2006 2007 2008 20090

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

Number of Volunteers

Number of Volunteers

Extension Volunteers (2009)

• 104,672 Volunteers

• Contributed over 4 million hours

• Average contribution of 38.77 hours per person

• Valued at over $82 million*

• FTE Equivalent: 2,140 employees*Value of Volunteer Time based upon Independent Sector rate of $20.25 per hour

Why Do People Volunteer?

• It’s tradition• They were asked• Influence others• Use a skill they already possess• Fill a person void• Interested in learning something new• Give back to the community• Want to meet new friends• Help othersSource: Corporation for National & Community Service, www.volunteeringinamerica.gov

Getting People to Volunteer

• Show them how they benefit!• Offer meaningful work• Time well spent• Realistic commitments• Flexibility• Learn about the community• Speak to their motivation

What Stops People from Volunteering?

• Perception of volunteers

• Fear the time commitment

• More likely to serve if a trusted friend asks them to serve

Source: Corporation for National & Community Service, www.volunteeringinamerica.gov

Volunteer Retention

• Retaining volunteers is harder than recruiting volunteers!

• From 2006 to 2007, more than 1/3 did not volunteer any time with any nonprofit

• That’s estimated at $38 billion in lost labor!

Source: Eisner, D., Grimm, Jr., R.T., Maynard, S., Washburn, S. (2009).

Why do volunteers quit?

• Misplaced volunteer

• Lack of recognition and appreciation

• Lack of training provided

• Poor management

Implications for Extension

• Capitalize on growth in teenage volunteers and service

• Continue to embrace the episodic volunteer movement

• Recruitment implications• Focus on retaining current

volunteers• Facilitate proper management of

volunteers