Taking the Pulse of Our Nation’s Civic Health
AXIOS: A Conversation on the Impact of Volunteering
Axios hosted a virtual event featuring conversations with leaders in this space for a closer look at how volunteerism can be most impactful.
Every two years, AmeriCorps partners with the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct the Current Population Survey Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement, the most robust survey about civic engagement across the country and over time. The most recent survey shows the civic participation of Americans aged 16 and up between September 2022 and 2023.
The data informs AmeriCorps’ Volunteering and Civic Life in America research, a comprehensive look at how people make a difference in their communities and promote the common good. The latest research examines trends in formal volunteering (including virtual volunteering for the first time), informal helping, and other civic behaviors at the national level, within each state, and in the largest twelve metro areas. The research supports evidence-based decision making and efforts to understand how people make a difference in communities nationwide.
Formal Volunteering and Informal Helping
Formal Volunteering
Formal volunteering involves helping others through organizations and includes activities like supporting public health efforts, supporting food banks, and tutoring students to help them stay on track in school.
More than 28 percent of Americans—more than 75.7 million people—formally volunteered for an organization between September 2022 and 2023. In total, these volunteers served an estimated 4.99 billion hours with an economic value of $167.2 billion.
Informal Helping
Informal helping involves helping neighbors with tasks like house sitting, watching each other’s children, or lending tools.
The share of Americans who informally help their neighbors is climbing in the latest data. More than 54 percent of Americans—or 137.5 million people—informally helped their neighbors between September 2022 and 2023. This represents an increase of 3 percentage points over previous years.
National Findings
View a summary of key insights.
Toolkit
Find graphics, sample social media, press templates, fact sheets, and more.
Virtual Volunteering Findings
In 2023, AmeriCorps introduced a first-of-its-kind measure of virtual volunteering.
Volunteer
Your community needs you. Volunteer to make an impact. Whether you can volunteer long-term, short-term, or just one time, your time makes a tremendous difference.
Civic Engagement and Volunteering (CEV) Supplement Research
Every two years, AmeriCorps partners with the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct the Current Population Survey Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement (CEV). The CEV is the most robust survey about volunteerism and other forms of civic engagement across the United States and over time. Dive deeper into CEV findings and explore the data to run your own analysis.
Findings from the 2023 CEV
Reports:
2023 Spotlighting the CEV Research Briefs and Graphics:
Findings from Earlier Waves of the CEV
Reports:
- 2021 Research Summary
- Key Findings from the 2019 Current Population Survey Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement
2021 CEV Research Briefs and Graphics:
- Formal Volunteering and Informal Helping
- Formal Volunteering Intensity
- Engaging with Neighbors
- Work and Civic Life
- Using Civic Engagement and Volunteering Data to Strengthen Civic Life
- National Rates of Civic Engagement in 2019 and 2021
Explore the CEV Data
Other Relevant Research
The AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation assists AmeriCorps and its partners in collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data and insights about AmeriCorps programs and civic life in America.
AmeriCorps Member Exit Survey (MES)
- Highlights from the AmeriCorps Member Exit Survey Dataset
- Video: Introduction to the AmeriCorps Member Exit Survey
- MES data, documentation, and user support materials
AmeriCorps Research Grants
Volunteer Generation Fund
- AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund Bundle Evaluation and Capacity Building Project
- Volunteer Management and Engagement Research Guide
Benefits of National Service and Volunteering
Service is good for participants, partners, communities, and society. Check out more AmeriCorps research about the benefits of giving your time and talent.
Trends Over Time
State-Level Trends
View state-level rates of six key measures of civic engagement from 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.