Commitment to volunteering increased by nearly 12 percent from 2002 to 2005 according to a new study by the Points of Light Foundation and the Volunteer Center National Network.
The Highlights
- Interest in volunteering rose most quickly among people ages 55 to 64. Twenty-eight percent more people in that age group volunteered last year than in 2002.
- Among people 65 and older, the increase in service was 16 percent.
- Young people ages 16 to 24 increased their volunteer efforts by 14 percent...boding well for the future of volunteerism since young people who volunteer tend to continue volunteering throughout adulthood.
- The number of hours Americans spent as volunteers grew but not as much as the number of volunteers indicating that more Americans may be doing occasional volunteer work rather than making sustained commitments.
Charities Missing the Boat When It Comes to Volunteer Opportunities
In another, separate, study by Points of Light and Deloitte Touche USA, some disappointing information turned up about how charities are not taking advantage of the volunteer skills available to them. The study found that:
- Sixty-two percent of charity leaders said they do not rely on any companies to provide volunteers.
- Only 12 percent of nonprofit groups said they give their volunteers the opportunity to work on projects that match their skills.
- Among workers who volunteer, 40 percent said they look for the chance to use the skills they've developed on the job, but only 19 percent said they actually use those skills when they volunteer.
The reports on these studies are available at the web site of the Points of Light Foundation.
