Who is the Volunteer of 2009?
By Layne Gray - February 3, 2010
About 63.4 million Americans, or roughly 27% of the population, volunteered between the twelve months of September 2008 and 2009 according to the just-released report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2009 volunteering rose slightly over 2008, driven by an increase in female volunteers.
So as far as sweeping generalizations go, here are the key characteristics of the quintessential volunteer of 2009: Based on the facts from the report, she is a married, college-educated, white female age 35 – 54 with kids under the age of 18 who works part-time. Whereas this is a consolidation of a host of factors and taken out of context, the full report outlines the key findings.
Report findings:
- Men versus women:
- Women volunteer greater than 30% more than men: Men volunteer at the rate of approximately 23% versus women at 30%.
- The number one activity men and women volunteer for is equally rated but are different in focus: fundraising for women and the contribution of general labor for men.
- Men actually volunteered more hours on average (52 versus women at 50)
- Education level:
- For individuals over the age of 25, it was discovered that College graduates volunteer more than 2 to 1 over high school graduates. College educated – 43%; high school graduates – 19%.
- More education also changed the type of activity they performed; they were more likely to provide professional or management assistance or to tutor or teach. College graduates were less likely to distribute food.
- Age:
- Individuals between 35 and 54 are 50% more likely to volunteer (30%) versus individuals in their early twenties (19%).
- People over 65 only volunteered at the rate of 24%
- Family:
- Married individuals are 50% more likely to volunteer (32%) than those who have never married (21%).
- Adults with children under 18 are also more likely to volunteer: 34% versus those without children under 18 at 24%
- Ethnicity:
- African American volunteers grew at the highest rate of all groups from 2008 to 2009, led by women
- Overall, Caucasians volunteered more, according to the study: 28% versus African Americans at 20%, Asians at 19% and *Hispanic at 15%
- Employment:
- Part-time workers (less than 35 hours week) volunteer at the highest level (34%) versus full-time workers (29%)
- While only 23% of unemployed individuals volunteered that represented a jump from 2008
SUMMARY
The full report is available for free download.
About the author: Layne Gray
As the Founder of Vivanista, Layne is not only an entrepreneur but one of San Francisco's most dedicated volunteer fundraisers who has raised millions for Bay Area charities.
