The AmeriCorps mission is to “improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.” In addition to striving to improve communities and the lives of beneficiaries served through agency programs, AmeriCorps values the development of its service members and volunteers.
To investigate the characteristics and attitudes of AmeriCorps service participants, the Office of Research and Evaluation administers a survey. The Member Exit Survey (MES) captures outgoing members’ service experiences upon their exit from the program.
The MES captures members’ experiences in three AmeriCorps programs: AmeriCorps State and National (ASN), AmeriCorps VISTA (VISTA), and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). Since 2015, nearly 350,000 members have responded to this survey.
Highlights from MES data are reflected in the newly published infographic, 'Step Forward: Where Adventure Meets Opportunity'. This infographic provides a preview into the upcoming series of memoranda from the agency covering civic engagement, bridging differences and satisfaction with membership, and volunteer experiences based on responses from the 2016-2020 MES datasets.
Member Exit Survey Report Series
To better understand the experiences and impacts of AmeriCorps service, the Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE) investigates the characteristics and attitudes of AmeriCorps service participants at the conclusion of their service. Below are a series of Member Exit Survey analysis reports that outline key findings that support the Infographic.
AmeriCorps Member Exit Survey Fact Sheet: one-pager focused on what is in the data, the types of questions the data can answer, and who might find the data useful
Bridging Differences through AmeriCorps Service: report focused on AmeriCorps members’ aptitude for cultural competency assessed from member exit surveys
Spotlight On Bridging Differences: one-pager focused on how AmeriCorps members bridge differences assessed from member exit surveys
Spotlight On Civic Engagement: one-pager focused on how AmeriCorps members demonstrate civic engagement assessed from member exit surveys
AmeriCorps Fosters Civic Engagement: AmeriCorps Member Exit Survey Analysis 2017-2021: report focused on how AmeriCorps members see themselves in relation to civic engagement assessed from member exit surveys
Post-Service Plans and Life and Career Skill Development of AmeriCorps Members Member Exit Survey Series 2017-2022: report focused on the attitudes of AmeriCorps’ members towards their life and career skills upon exiting their AmeriCorps programs.