For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, February 22, 2013 USDL-13-0285
Technical information: (202) 691-6378 * cpsinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/cps
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
VOLUNTEERING IN THE UNITED STATES -- 2012
The volunteer rate declined by 0.3 percentage point to 26.5 percent for the year ending
in September 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. About 64.5 million
people volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2011
and September 2012. The decline in the volunteer rate in 2012 followed an increase of
one-half of a percentage point in 2011.
These data on volunteering were collected through a supplement to the September 2012
Current Population Survey (CPS). The supplement was sponsored by the Corporation for
National and Community Service. The CPS is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households
that obtains information on employment and unemployment among the nation's civilian
noninstitutional population age 16 and over. Volunteers are defined as persons who did
unpaid work (except for expenses) through or for an organization. For more information
about the volunteer supplement, see the Technical Note.
Volunteering Among Demographic Groups
The volunteer rates for both men and women (23.2 and 29.5 percent, respectively) changed
little in the year ending in September 2012. Women continued to volunteer at a higher
rate than did men across all age groups, educational levels, and other major demographic
characteristics. (See tables A and 1.)
By age, 35- to 44-year-olds were most likely to volunteer (31.6 percent). Volunteer
rates were lowest among 20- to 24-year-olds (18.9 percent). For persons 45 years and over,
the volunteer rate tapered off as age increased. Teens (16- to 19-year-olds) had a
volunteer rate of 27.4 percent.
Among the major race and ethnicity groups, whites continued to volunteer at a higher rate
(27.8 percent) than did blacks (21.1 percent), Asians (19.6 percent), and Hispanics (15.2
percent). Of these groups, the volunteer rate for whites fell 0.4 percentage point in
2012, driven by a decline in the volunteer rate of white women. Among blacks, the rate
edged up 0.8 percentage point.
Married persons volunteered at a higher rate (31.9 percent) in 2012 than did those who
had never married (20.7 percent) and those with other marital statuses (21.3 percent).
The volunteer rate of parents with children under age 18 (33.5 percent) remained higher
than the rate for persons without children (23.8 percent).
Individuals with higher levels of education engaged in volunteer activities at higher
rates than did those with less education. Among persons age 25 and over, 42.2 percent
of college graduates volunteered, compared with 17.3 percent of high school graduates
and 8.8 percent of those with less than a high school diploma. The rate of volunteering
was about unchanged for college graduates. The rate declined for persons in the other
educational attainment categories.
Volunteers by Employment Status
Among employed persons, 29.1 percent volunteered during the year ending in September 2012.
By comparison, 23.8 percent of unemployed persons and 22.4 percent of those not in the
labor force volunteered. Among the employed, part-time workers were more likely than
full-time workers to have participated in volunteer activities--33.4 percent compared
with 28.1 percent. (See table 1.)
Total Annual Hours Spent Volunteering
Volunteers spent a median of 50 hours on volunteer activities during the period from
September 2011 to September 2012. Time spent on volunteer activities was similar for
women and men. Median annual hours spent on volunteer activities ranged from a low of
32 hours for those 25 to 34 years old to a high of 90 hours for volunteers age 65
and over. (See table 2.)
Table A. Volunteers by selected characteristics, September 2008 through September 2012
(Numbers in thousands)
September September September September September
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Characteristics Per- Per- Per- Per- Per-
cent cent cent cent cent
of of of of of
Number pop- Number pop- Number pop- Number pop- Number pop-
ula- ula- ula- ula- ula-
tion tion tion tion tion
Sex
Total, both sexes..... 61,803 26.4 63,361 26.8 62,790 26.3 64,252 26.8 64,513 26.5
Men.................. 26,268 23.2 26,655 23.3 26,787 23.2 27,354 23.5 27,238 23.2
Women ............... 35,535 29.4 36,706 30.1 36,004 29.3 36,898 29.9 37,274 29.5
Age
Total, 16 years and
over...,............ 61,803 26.4 63,361 26.8 62,790 26.3 64,252 26.8 64,513 26.5
16 to 24 years....... 8,239 21.9 8,290 22.0 8,297 21.9 8,578 22.5 8,776 22.6
25 to 34 years....... 9,154 22.8 9,511 23.5 9,140 22.3 9,691 23.3 9,513 23.2
35 to 44 years....... 13,016 31.3 12,835 31.5 12,904 32.2 12,566 31.8 12,527 31.6
45 to 54 years....... 13,189 29.9 13,703 30.8 13,435 30.3 13,420 30.6 12,777 29.3
55 to 64 years....... 9,456 28.1 9,894 28.3 9,830 27.2 10,449 28.1 10,619 27.6
65 years and over.... 8,749 23.5 9,129 23.9 9,184 23.6 9,547 24.0 10,301 24.4
Race and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
White................. 53,078 27.9 54,078 28.3 53,556 27.8 54,432 28.2 53,778 27.8
Black or African
American............. 5,325 19.1 5,712 20.2 5,580 19.4 5,934 20.3 6,316 21.1
Asian................. 2,022 18.7 2,060 19.0 2,207 19.6 2,304 20.0 2,524 19.6
Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity............ 4,662 14.4 4,873 14.7 4,982 14.7 5,151 14.9 5,635 15.2
Educational attainment (1)
Less than a high school
diploma............. 2,427 9.4 2,242 8.6 2,231 8.8 2,461 9.8 2,177 8.8
High school graduates,
no college (2)........ 10,998 18.1 11,408 18.8 10,887 17.9 11,049 18.2 10,527 17.3
Some college or
associate degree...... 15,519 30.0 15,931 30.5 15,505 29.2 15,946 29.5 15,832 28.7
Bachelor's degree and
higher (3)............ 24,620 42.2 25,490 42.8 25,870 42.3 26,218 42.4 27,202 42.2
Employment status
Civilian labor force... 44,313 28.5 44,833 29.0 44,522 28.7 45,249 29.1 44,974 28.7
Employed.............. 42,131 28.9 41,372 29.7 40,980 29.2 41,881 29.6 42,083 29.1
Full time (4)........ 33,344 27.8 32,085 28.7 31,625 28.2 32,517 28.7 32,568 28.1
Part time (5)........ 8,788 34.2 9,287 33.7 9,355 33.2 9,363 33.3 9,515 33.4
Unemployed............ 2,181 22.3 3,462 22.9 3,542 23.8 3,368 23.8 2,891 23.8
Not in the labor force. 17,491 22.2 18,528 22.6 18,268 22.0 19,003 22.5 19,539 22.4
1 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
2 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
3 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
4 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
5 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not
sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified
as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with
the release of January data. Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer
activities for an organization at any point in the year ending in September. See the Technical Note
for further information.
Number and Type of Organizations
Most volunteers were involved with either one or two organizations--70.5 and 19.1 percent,
respectively. Individuals with higher educational attainment were more likely to volunteer
for multiple organizations than were those with less education. (See table 3.)
In 2012, the main organization--the organization for which the volunteer worked the most
hours during the year--was most frequently religious (33.1 percent of all volunteers),
followed by educational or youth service related (25.5 percent) and social or community
service organizations (14.2 percent). (See table 4.)
Older volunteers were more likely to volunteer mainly for religious organizations than
were their younger counterparts. For example, 46.5 percent of volunteers age 65 and over
did their service mainly through or for a religious organization, compared with 26.5
percent of volunteers age 16 to 24.
For all levels of educational attainment, volunteers were most likely to volunteer for
religious organizations, followed by educational or youth service organizations. Among
volunteers with less than a high school diploma, 48.6 percent volunteered mainly for
religious organizations and 23.2 percent volunteered for educational or youth service
organizations. Of volunteers with a bachelor's degree and higher, 30.5 percent volunteered
mainly for religious organizations and 26.8 percent volunteered mainly for educational or
youth service organizations.
Among volunteers with children under 18 years old, 46.2 percent of mothers and 38.8
percent of fathers volunteered mainly for an educational or youth service organization,
such as a school or scouting group. Volunteers without children under age 18 were more
likely than parents to volunteer for other types of organizations, such as social or
community service organizations, hospitals or other health organizations, and religious
organizations.
Main Volunteer Activity for Main Organization
Collecting, preparing, distributing, or serving food (10.9 percent) and fundraising
(10.7 percent) were the activities volunteers performed most frequently for their
main organization. Men and women tended to engage in different main activities. Men
who volunteered were most likely to engage in general labor (11.6 percent) or coach,
referee, or supervise sports teams (10.1 percent). Female volunteers were most likely
to collect, prepare, distribute, or serve food (12.3 percent) or fundraise (11.8 percent).
(See table 5.)
The main types of activities volunteers performed varied by educational attainment. Persons
with a bachelor's degree and higher were more likely than those with less education to
provide professional or management assistance or to tutor or teach. They were least likely
to collect, make, or distribute clothing, crafts, or goods other than food. Volunteers with
less than a high school diploma were more likely to collect, prepare, distribute, or serve
food than those with higher levels of education.
Parents were considerably more likely than those without children to engage mainly in
volunteer activities that are frequently related to children--including coaching,
refereeing, or supervising sports teams; tutoring or teaching; and mentoring youth.
How Volunteers Became Involved with Main Organization
About 41.6 percent of volunteers became involved with their main organization after being
asked to volunteer, most often by someone in the organization. About 42.1 percent became
involved on their own initiative--that is, they approached the organization. (See table 6.)
Technical Note
The data in this release were collected through a supplement to the September 2012
Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS--a monthly survey of about 60,000 households
conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics--focuses on
obtaining information on employment and unemployment among the nation's civilian
noninstitutional population age 16 and over. The purpose of this supplement to the
CPS was to obtain information on the incidence of volunteering and the characteristics
of volunteers in the United States.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals
upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error. When
a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed, there is a chance that the
sample estimates may differ from the "true" population values they represent. The
component of this difference that occurs because samples differ by chance is known
as sampling error, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the
estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate
based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at
the 90-percent level of confidence.
The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can occur for
many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of the population, inability
to obtain information for all respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness
of respondents to provide correct information, and errors made in the collection or
processing of the data.
A full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and for information on
estimating standard errors is available on the BLS Web site at
www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability.
The Census Bureau introduces adjustments to the population controls for the CPS as
part of its annual update of population estimates. For this reason, data in this
release are not strictly comparable with data for earlier years. Additional
information is available on the internet at www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#pop.
Volunteer questions and concepts
In the September supplement, questions on volunteer activities were asked of all
households. Efforts were made to have household members answer the volunteer
questions for themselves. (Generally, one member of the household answers all
the questions in the CPS on behalf of the entire household.) Self-response was
considered important for the volunteer supplement because research indicated that
self-respondents could more easily answer questions on the characteristics of the
volunteer activity. About 7 of 10 responses were self-reports. The survey was
introduced as follows: "This month, we are interested in volunteer activities, that
is, activities for which people are not paid, except perhaps expenses. We only want
you to include volunteer activities that you did through or for an organization,
even if you only did them once in a while."
Following this introduction, respondents were asked the first supplement question:
"Since September 1st of last year, have you done any volunteer activities through
or for an organization?"
If respondents did not answer "yes" to the first question, they were asked the
following question: "Sometimes people don't think of activities they do infrequently
or activities they do for children's schools or youth organizations as volunteer
activities. Since September 1st of last year, have you done any of these types of
volunteer activities?"
Respondents were considered volunteers if they answered "yes" to either of these
questions. This method has been used since the supplement was first administered
in 2002.
Respondents classified as volunteers were asked further questions about the number
and type of organizations for which they volunteered, total hours spent volunteering,
how they became involved with the main organization for which they volunteered, the
type of activities they performed for the main organization, and what their main
activity was. The reference period for the questions on volunteering was about
1 year, from September 1, 2011, through the survey reference week in September 2012.
The reference period for other characteristics--such as labor force status, educational
attainment, and marital status--refer to the survey reference week in September 2012.
It is possible that these characteristics were different at the time volunteer
activities were performed.
One new question was added to the 2008 survey to determine whether or not respondents
had donated money, assets, or property with a combined value of more than $25 to
charitable or religious organizations in the past 12 months. Two questions asked in
the 2007 supplement were removed in 2008. These questions asked how often respondents
who had attended public meetings or who had worked with others in their neighborhood
to fix a problem did so.
Definitions
Volunteers are persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities at any point during
the survey reference year. The count of volunteers only includes persons who
volunteered through or for an organization; the figures do not include persons who
volunteered in a more informal manner. For example, a woman who taught acting to
children through a local theater would be considered a volunteer. However, a woman
who, on her own, organized softball games for the children in her neighborhood would
not be counted as a volunteer for the purpose of this survey.
Organizations are associations, societies, or groups of people who share a common
interest. Examples include churches, youth groups, and civic organizations. For
the purpose of this study, organizations are grouped into eight major categories,
including religious, youth, and social or community service organizations.
In the 2005 survey, one organization category, immigrant/refugee assistance, was
added to the questionnaire as a possible response. Responses that were collected in
this category may have been distributed over at least six of the major organization
categories in previous years. For this reason, the addition of the new response
category created a break in the comparability of organizations between 2005 and prior
years. Because few people reported volunteering for immigrant/refugee assistance
organizations and because the group was not a definite subset of any of the major
organization categories, those persons who did report that they volunteered for
immigrant/refugee assistance organizations were placed in the "other" group.
The main organization is the organization for which the volunteer worked the most
hours during the year. If a respondent volunteered for only one organization, it
was considered the main organization, even if exact hours were not obtained.
In order to identify the type of main organization, respondents provided information
about the organization and, for those who volunteered for more than one organization,
annual hours worked for each. Some respondents did not provide the information
necessary to determine the main organization. For these respondents, the follow-up
questions on activities and how they became involved with the main organization
asked them to report on the organization for which they think they spent the most
time volunteering.
Activities are the specific tasks the volunteer did for an organization. Examples
include tutoring, fundraising, and serving food. The activity categories were
modified in 2005, thus creating a break in the comparability of activities between
2005 and prior years.
In 2006, a new question was added that asked respondents on which of the activities
they mentioned they spent the most time. Previously, respondents reported all of the
activities they did for their main organization. The new question identified which of
them was the main activity for the main organization.
Table 1. Volunteers by selected characteristics, September 2012
(Numbers in thousands)
Total, both sexes Men Women
Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers
Characteristics in September 2012 Civilian Civilian Civilian
noninsti- noninsti- noninsti-
tutional Percent tutional Percent tutional Percent
popula- Number of popula- Number of popula- Number of
tion popula- tion popula- tion popula-
tion tion tion
Age
Total, 16 years and over................ 243,772 64,513 26.5 117,600 27,238 23.2 126,172 37,274 29.5
16 to 24 years........................ 38,800 8,776 22.6 19,556 3,914 20.0 19,244 4,862 25.3
16 to 19 years..................... 16,931 4,644 27.4 8,628 2,166 25.1 8,303 2,478 29.8
20 to 24 years..................... 21,869 4,132 18.9 10,928 1,748 16.0 10,941 2,384 21.8
25 years and over..................... 204,973 55,737 27.2 98,045 23,324 23.8 106,928 32,413 30.3
25 to 34 years..................... 41,072 9,513 23.2 20,263 3,813 18.8 20,810 5,700 27.4
35 to 44 years..................... 39,632 12,527 31.6 19,412 5,130 26.4 20,221 7,397 36.6
45 to 54 years..................... 43,608 12,777 29.3 21,294 5,569 26.2 22,314 7,208 32.3
55 to 64 years..................... 38,442 10,619 27.6 18,475 4,547 24.6 19,966 6,072 30.4
65 years and over.................. 42,219 10,301 24.4 18,601 4,265 22.9 23,618 6,036 25.6
Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
White................................... 193,503 53,778 27.8 94,429 22,961 24.3 99,074 30,817 31.1
Black or African American............... 29,991 6,316 21.1 13,550 2,429 17.9 16,441 3,886 23.6
Asian................................... 12,875 2,524 19.6 6,040 1,057 17.5 6,835 1,467 21.5
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity............ 36,969 5,635 15.2 18,546 2,422 13.1 18,424 3,213 17.4
Educational attainment (1)
Less than a high school diploma......... 24,697 2,177 8.8 12,293 956 7.8 12,404 1,221 9.8
High school graduates, no college (2)... 60,767 10,527 17.3 29,747 4,391 14.8 31,020 6,136 19.8
Some college or associate degree ....... 55,081 15,832 28.7 25,004 6,123 24.5 30,077 9,709 32.3
Bachelor's degree and higher (3)........ 64,428 27,202 42.2 31,000 11,855 38.2 33,427 15,346 45.9
Marital status
Single, never married................... 72,102 14,920 20.7 38,024 6,501 17.1 34,078 8,419 24.7
Married, spouse present................. 123,194 39,290 31.9 61,981 17,711 28.6 61,213 21,579 35.3
Other marital status (4)................ 48,476 10,302 21.3 17,595 3,027 17.2 30,881 7,276 23.6
Presence of own children
under 18 years (5)
Without own children under 18........... 176,911 42,105 23.8 88,080 18,248 20.7 88,831 23,857 26.9
With own children under 18.............. 66,861 22,408 33.5 29,521 8,991 30.5 37,340 13,417 35.9
Employment status
Civilian labor force.................... 156,594 44,974 28.7 83,124 20,882 25.1 73,469 24,092 32.8
Employed.............................. 144,450 42,083 29.1 76,695 19,681 25.7 67,755 22,402 33.1
Full time (6)....................... 115,983 32,568 28.1 66,207 16,873 25.5 49,775 15,695 31.5
Part time (7)....................... 28,468 9,515 33.4 10,488 2,807 26.8 17,980 6,707 37.3
Unemployed............................ 12,144 2,891 23.8 6,430 1,202 18.7 5,714 1,689 29.6
Not in the labor force.................. 87,179 19,539 22.4 34,476 6,356 18.4 52,703 13,183 25.0
1 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
2 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
3 Includes persons with bachelor's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
4 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
5 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are nieces, nephews,
grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.
6 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
7 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point
from September 1, 2011, through the survey period in September 2012. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or
African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is
identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
Table 2. Volunteers by annual hours of volunteer activities and selected characteristics, September 2012
Percent distribution of total annual hours spent volunteering
at all organizations
Characteristics in September 2012 Total Not Median
volunteers Total 1 to 14 15 to 49 50 to 99 100 to 500 reporting annual
(thousands) hour(s) hours hours 499 hours annual hours (1)
hours and over hours
Sex
Total, both sexes....................... 64,513 100.0 21.7 24.5 15.3 27.4 5.8 5.3 50
Men.................................. 27,238 100.0 21.4 24.8 15.3 27.3 6.0 5.2 50
Women................................ 37,274 100.0 21.9 24.3 15.4 27.5 5.6 5.3 51
Age
Total, 16 years and over................ 64,513 100.0 21.7 24.5 15.3 27.4 5.8 5.3 50
16 to 24 years........................ 8,776 100.0 25.1 25.4 14.8 22.9 4.6 7.2 40
16 to 19 years..................... 4,644 100.0 24.6 27.4 16.5 21.7 3.3 6.5 40
20 to 24 years..................... 4,132 100.0 25.6 23.1 12.9 24.3 6.0 8.0 40
25 years and over..................... 55,737 100.0 21.2 24.4 15.4 28.1 6.0 4.9 52
25 to 34 years..................... 9,513 100.0 29.0 26.1 15.8 20.9 3.5 4.8 32
35 to 44 years..................... 12,527 100.0 23.6 26.1 15.8 25.6 4.5 4.5 46
45 to 54 years..................... 12,777 100.0 20.9 25.3 15.2 28.5 5.5 4.6 52
55 to 64 years..................... 10,619 100.0 18.4 24.0 15.9 30.2 6.4 5.1 56
65 years and over.................. 10,301 100.0 14.3 20.1 14.4 35.1 10.2 5.9 90
Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
White................................... 53,778 100.0 21.3 25.0 15.5 27.6 5.6 5.0 50
Black or African American............... 6,316 100.0 21.7 22.2 13.5 27.9 7.6 7.2 52
Asian................................... 2,524 100.0 28.5 22.4 16.7 22.7 3.6 6.1 40
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity............ 5,635 100.0 22.8 26.0 15.6 24.1 5.8 5.7 48
Educational attainment (2)
Less than a high school diploma......... 2,177 100.0 25.5 18.7 16.1 27.5 6.1 6.0 52
High school graduates, no college (3)... 10,527 100.0 22.4 24.0 14.6 27.2 6.3 5.4 50
Some college or associate degree ....... 15,832 100.0 22.0 24.7 14.9 27.0 6.3 5.1 50
Bachelor's degree and higher (4)........ 27,202 100.0 19.9 24.8 15.9 29.1 5.6 4.6 52
Marital status
Single, never married................... 14,920 100.0 26.4 24.9 14.9 22.7 4.5 6.7 40
Married, spouse present................. 39,290 100.0 20.3 24.6 15.8 29.1 5.8 4.5 52
Other marital status (5)................ 10,302 100.0 20.3 23.9 14.4 27.7 7.7 6.0 52
Presence of own children
under 18 years (6)
Men:
No own children under 18 years old.... 18,248 100.0 20.5 25.0 14.6 27.1 6.9 5.9 52
With own children under 18 years old.. 8,991 100.0 23.3 24.3 16.5 27.7 4.3 3.9 50
Women:
No own children under 18 years old.... 23,857 100.0 20.5 23.4 15.0 29.0 6.2 5.8 52
With own children under 18 years old.. 13,417 100.0 24.5 26.0 16.1 24.7 4.4 4.3 44
Employment status
Civilian labor force.................... 44,974 100.0 23.0 25.8 15.7 25.8 4.7 5.0 48
Employed.............................. 42,083 100.0 23.0 25.9 15.8 25.7 4.5 5.0 48
Full time (7)....................... 32,568 100.0 23.5 26.2 15.8 25.2 4.2 5.0 45
Part time (8)....................... 9,515 100.0 21.3 24.9 16.0 27.5 5.4 4.9 52
Unemployed............................ 2,891 100.0 23.3 23.8 13.6 27.6 7.6 4.1 52
Not in the labor force.................. 19,539 100.0 18.7 21.7 14.5 31.0 8.2 5.9 61
1 For those reporting annual hours.
2 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
3 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
4 Includes persons with bachelor's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
5 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
6 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are nieces, nephews,
grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.
7 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
8 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point
from September 1, 2011, through the survey period in September 2012. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or
African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity
is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
Table 3. Volunteers by number of organizations for which volunteer activities were performed and
selected characteristics, September 2012
Percent distribution of the number of
organizations for which volunteer activities
were performed
Total
Characteristics in September 2012 volunteers Not
(thousands) reporting
Five number of
Total One Two Three Four or organiza-
more tions
Sex
Total, both sexes....................... 64,513 100.0 70.5 19.1 6.8 2.2 1.2 0.2
Men.................................. 27,238 100.0 71.8 18.7 6.4 1.9 1.1 .1
Women................................ 37,274 100.0 69.5 19.5 7.1 2.4 1.3 .2
Age
Total, 16 years and over................ 64,513 100.0 70.5 19.1 6.8 2.2 1.2 .2
16 to 24 years........................ 8,776 100.0 77.2 14.8 5.3 1.8 .8 .1
16 to 19 years..................... 4,644 100.0 74.1 17.2 5.6 2.2 .9 .1
20 to 24 years..................... 4,132 100.0 80.8 12.0 5.0 1.3 .6 .2
25 years and over..................... 55,737 100.0 69.4 19.8 7.0 2.2 1.3 .2
25 to 34 years..................... 9,513 100.0 75.0 17.4 5.5 1.3 .7 -
35 to 44 years..................... 12,527 100.0 69.8 19.9 7.2 2.0 1.0 .1
45 to 54 years..................... 12,777 100.0 67.5 20.1 8.0 2.6 1.6 .2
55 to 64 years..................... 10,619 100.0 67.1 21.5 7.2 2.5 1.5 .2
65 years and over.................. 10,301 100.0 68.6 20.0 6.9 2.6 1.6 .2
Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
White................................... 53,778 100.0 69.2 19.7 7.3 2.3 1.3 .2
Black or African American............... 6,316 100.0 78.4 14.6 4.4 1.3 1.1 .2
Asian................................... 2,524 100.0 78.4 15.9 4.3 .7 .6 .2
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity............ 5,635 100.0 82.5 11.6 3.9 1.2 .7 .1
Educational attainment (1)
Less than a high school diploma......... 2,177 100.0 87.8 9.6 1.9 .3 .2 .2
High school graduates, no college (2)... 10,527 100.0 79.3 14.9 4.5 .7 .5 .1
Some college or associate degree ....... 15,832 100.0 71.8 19.2 5.7 2.0 1.1 .2
Bachelor's degree and higher (3)........ 27,202 100.0 62.8 22.9 9.2 3.1 1.8 .1
Marital status
Single, never married................... 14,920 100.0 75.7 15.7 5.8 1.8 .9 .2
Married, spouse present................. 39,290 100.0 68.5 20.4 7.3 2.3 1.3 .1
Other marital status (4)................ 10,302 100.0 70.6 19.3 6.2 2.2 1.3 .3
Presence of own children under
18 years (5)
Men:
No own children under 18 years old.... 18,248 100.0 72.2 18.5 6.3 1.8 1.2 -
With own children under 18 years old.. 8,991 100.0 71.2 19.1 6.8 2.0 .8 .1
Women:
No own children under 18 years old.... 23,857 100.0 70.2 18.9 6.8 2.5 1.2 .3
With own children under 18 years old.. 13,417 100.0 68.3 20.4 7.5 2.2 1.5 .1
Employment status
Civilian labor force.................... 44,974 100.0 69.5 19.8 7.1 2.2 1.2 .2
Employed.............................. 42,083 100.0 69.4 19.9 7.1 2.2 1.2 .2
Full time (6)....................... 32,568 100.0 69.8 19.6 7.1 2.2 1.1 .2
Part time (7)....................... 9,515 100.0 68.1 20.7 7.3 2.4 1.4 .1
Unemployed............................ 2,891 100.0 71.4 18.1 6.4 2.6 1.3 .3
Not in the labor force.................. 19,539 100.0 72.7 17.7 6.2 2.0 1.3 .2
1 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
2 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
3 Includes persons with bachelor's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
4 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
5 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are
nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.
6 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
7 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an
organization at any point from September 1, 2011, through the survey period in September 2012.
Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to
totals because data are not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as
Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Dash represents or rounds to zero.
Table 4. Volunteers by type of main organization for which volunteer activities were performed and selected characteristics,
September 2012
Percent distribution of volunteers by type of main organization (1)
Total Civic,
Characteristics in volun- polit- Educa- Envi- Hos- Social Sport,
September 2009 teers ical, tional ron- pital Pub- or hobby, Not
(thou- Total profes- or mental or lic Reli- commu- cul- Other deter-
sands) sional, youth or other safe- gious nity tural, mined
inter- ser- animal health ty service or arts
national vice care
Sex
Total, both sexes....................... 64,513 100.0 5.5 25.5 2.6 7.8 1.2 33.1 14.2 3.8 4.0 2.3
Men.................................. 27,238 100.0 6.8 23.8 2.5 6.2 1.9 32.9 14.8 4.5 4.4 2.2
Women................................ 37,274 100.0 4.6 26.7 2.7 9.0 .6 33.2 13.8 3.3 3.7 2.3
Age
Total, 16 years and over................ 64,513 100.0 5.5 25.5 2.6 7.8 1.2 33.1 14.2 3.8 4.0 2.3
16 to 24 years........................ 8,776 100.0 4.7 27.4 3.1 9.9 1.4 26.5 16.1 3.1 4.5 3.3
16 to 19 years..................... 4,644 100.0 4.2 30.9 2.4 8.0 .9 27.7 15.8 2.8 4.1 3.2
20 to 24 years..................... 4,132 100.0 5.2 23.4 3.8 12.0 2.0 25.1 16.5 3.4 5.0 3.5
25 years and over..................... 55,737 100.0 5.6 25.2 2.6 7.5 1.1 34.1 13.9 3.9 3.9 2.1
25 to 34 years..................... 9,513 100.0 4.2 31.7 3.2 8.3 1.6 27.9 14.3 3.2 3.5 2.0
35 to 44 years..................... 12,527 100.0 4.0 40.2 2.4 5.5 1.1 26.5 11.6 3.8 3.4 1.5
45 to 54 years..................... 12,777 100.0 4.9 28.6 2.5 7.5 1.0 33.0 12.8 3.7 3.8 2.2
55 to 64 years..................... 10,619 100.0 7.6 14.5 3.1 8.8 1.1 38.2 14.5 4.9 4.6 2.8
65 years and over.................. 10,301 100.0 7.8 7.5 1.8 7.9 .9 46.5 17.1 4.2 4.2 2.2
Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
White................................... 53,778 100.0 5.7 25.1 2.8 8.2 1.3 32.3 14.3 4.0 4.0 2.2
Black or African American............... 6,316 100.0 4.5 24.6 1.2 5.3 .4 40.7 13.4 2.9 3.9 3.1
Asian................................... 2,524 100.0 4.1 31.4 1.7 7.8 - 34.0 12.2 2.7 3.3 2.8
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity............ 5,635 100.0 3.7 31.2 1.9 6.5 .8 35.0 12.3 2.8 3.0 2.8
Educational attainment (2)
Less than a high school diploma......... 2,177 100.0 3.6 23.2 .6 3.5 1.4 48.6 12.0 2.8 2.6 1.8
High school graduates, no college (3)... 10,527 100.0 5.1 21.4 2.9 7.0 1.7 40.0 13.5 3.3 3.3 1.8
Some college or associate degree ....... 15,832 100.0 5.5 25.2 2.3 7.8 1.4 34.5 13.9 3.3 4.2 2.0
Bachelor's degree and higher (4)........ 27,202 100.0 6.0 26.8 2.8 7.9 .7 30.5 14.3 4.7 4.1 2.3
Marital status
Single, never married................... 14,920 100.0 5.6 25.8 3.7 10.1 1.4 24.0 17.3 3.7 5.1 3.3
Married, spouse present................. 39,290 100.0 5.1 26.9 2.1 6.7 1.1 36.5 12.3 4.0 3.4 1.8
Other marital status (5)................ 10,302 100.0 6.7 19.6 3.0 8.7 1.2 33.3 16.9 3.5 4.4 2.5
Presence of own children
under 18 years (6)
Men:
No own children under 18 years old.... 18,248 100.0 7.9 16.4 3.1 7.1 2.1 34.3 17.2 4.3 5.1 2.6
With own children under 18 years old.. 8,991 100.0 4.6 38.8 1.2 4.4 1.5 30.3 10.0 4.8 3.0 1.4
Women:
No own children under 18 years old.... 23,857 100.0 5.7 15.8 3.4 11.1 .7 36.4 16.0 3.9 4.4 2.7
With own children under 18 years old.. 13,417 100.0 2.5 46.2 1.5 5.3 .5 27.6 10.0 2.3 2.5 1.6
Employment status
Civilian labor force.................... 44,974 100.0 5.5 27.4 2.9 7.8 1.4 30.9 14.0 4.0 3.9 2.3
Employed.............................. 42,083 100.0 5.4 27.6 2.9 7.9 1.4 30.9 13.8 4.1 3.8 2.3
Full time (7)....................... 32,568 100.0 5.6 27.7 2.8 8.2 1.4 30.0 14.1 4.2 3.8 2.3
Part time (8)....................... 9,515 100.0 5.0 27.2 3.2 6.8 1.1 33.8 12.8 4.1 3.8 2.2
Unemployed............................ 2,891 100.0 5.8 24.6 2.3 6.5 1.9 31.7 16.8 2.7 5.5 2.3
Not in the labor force.................. 19,539 100.0 5.6 21.1 2.1 8.0 .6 38.1 14.8 3.4 4.1 2.3
1 Main organization is defined as the organization for which the volunteer worked the most hours during the year. See the
Technical Note for more details.
2 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
3 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
4 Includes persons with bachelor's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
5 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
6 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are nieces, nephews, grandchildren,
and other related and unrelated children.
7 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
8 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from
September 1, 2011, through the survey period in September 2012. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African
American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as
Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
Table 5. Main volunteer activity for main organization for which activities were performed and selected characteristics, September 2012
Percent distribution of main volunteer activity for main organization (1)
Pro-
vide
Collect, Pro- profes- Engage
make or vide sional Engage in
Coach Col- distri- coun- or in gen-
Total ref- lect, bute Fund- seling, manage- music, eral Equal
volun- eree, Be an pre- cloth- raise medi- Provide ment perfor- labor, time
Characteristics in teers or, Tutor usher, pare, ing, or cal general assis- mance, supply among
September 2012 (thou- super- or Mentor greet- dis- crafts sell care, office tance, or, trans- Other all
sands) vise teach youth er, or tri- or goods items fire/, ser- includ- other port-
sports mini- bute, other to EMS, vices ing artis- ation
teams ster or than raise or, serving tic to
serve food money pro- on a activ- people
food tec- board ities
tive or
ser- commit-
vices tee
Sex
Total, both sexes.......... 64,513 5.8 9.5 6.3 4.0 10.9 3.7 10.7 3.0 4.8 6.9 3.6 8.1 14.8 7.9
Men..................... 27,238 10.1 6.9 5.9 4.9 9.1 2.2 9.3 3.5 2.9 8.3 3.8 11.6 14.5 7.1
Women................... 37,274 2.7 11.3 6.5 3.4 12.3 4.8 11.8 2.7 6.3 5.8 3.4 5.6 15.1 8.4
Age
Total, 16 years and over... 64,513 5.8 9.5 6.3 4.0 10.9 3.7 10.7 3.0 4.8 6.9 3.6 8.1 14.8 7.9
16 to 24 years........... 8,776 5.1 10.3 8.8 2.2 10.4 3.7 10.4 2.9 4.1 1.5 4.8 10.7 16.9 8.2
16 to 19 years........ 4,644 5.2 9.8 9.3 2.7 11.9 4.3 9.3 1.7 3.7 .9 4.9 11.1 15.8 9.5
20 to 24 years........ 4,132 5.0 10.9 8.4 1.6 8.6 3.0 11.6 4.3 4.6 2.2 4.6 10.3 18.2 6.7
25 years and over........ 55,737 5.9 9.3 5.9 4.3 11.0 3.7 10.8 3.1 4.9 7.7 3.4 7.7 14.5 7.8
25 to 34 years........ 9,513 7.8 10.5 8.9 2.8 9.2 3.7 12.0 3.6 3.3 4.9 3.8 8.5 14.1 6.8
35 to 44 years........ 12,527 11.0 11.4 7.5 2.3 8.7 2.9 11.6 3.0 4.5 6.3 2.5 6.7 13.7 8.0
45 to 54 years........ 12,777 6.3 8.8 6.7 4.6 11.1 3.0 11.6 2.8 4.6 7.8 3.0 8.3 13.7 7.5
55 to 64 years........ 10,619 2.7 8.8 3.8 5.4 11.2 3.7 10.3 3.7 4.9 10.3 4.0 7.9 15.6 7.8
65 years and over..... 10,301 1.0 6.9 2.1 6.5 15.3 5.4 8.0 2.4 7.4 9.2 3.9 7.2 15.8 8.9
Race and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
White...................... 53,778 5.9 9.3 6.1 3.8 10.6 3.6 11.2 3.0 4.8 7.3 3.4 8.4 14.9 7.7
Black or African
American.................. 6,316 6.3 9.6 7.3 5.8 13.4 4.0 7.5 3.4 4.6 4.5 4.4 6.5 13.7 8.9
Asian...................... 2,524 4.2 11.1 5.0 4.0 11.6 3.6 10.2 4.3 4.8 6.3 3.6 6.4 17.7 7.1
Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity................. 5,635 7.4 10.3 5.3 4.2 10.7 4.4 10.1 2.3 5.2 2.6 3.3 8.8 17.4 8.1
.
Educational attainment (2).
Less than a high school
diploma................. 2,177 5.8 5.3 2.8 5.3 19.6 6.8 8.8 1.2 4.7 1.6 2.1 12.0 15.7 8.2
High school graduates, no
college (3)............... 10,527 6.0 7.0 4.3 4.7 15.6 4.6 11.0 2.9 4.2 3.6 3.5 9.2 14.7 8.7
Some college or associate
degree ................... 15,832 5.5 8.8 6.0 4.2 11.6 3.8 11.8 2.9 5.6 5.2 3.3 8.3 14.5 8.5
Bachelor's degree and .
higher (4)................ 27,202 6.1 10.8 6.6 4.1 8.2 3.0 10.2 3.4 4.9 11.2 3.5 6.4 14.4 7.0
Marital status
Single, never married...... 14,920 5.1 8.5 7.7 2.6 10.9 3.5 11.4 3.6 4.4 3.4 4.3 9.9 16.9 7.7
Married, spouse present.... 39,290 6.6 10.2 6.2 4.5 10.3 3.2 10.7 2.7 4.7 8.5 3.3 7.5 13.7 7.7
Other marital status (5)... 10,302 4.0 8.0 4.2 4.1 13.3 5.6 9.8 3.4 6.0 5.8 3.3 7.7 16.1 8.6
Presence of own children .
under 18 years (6) .
Men:
No own children under
18 years old............ 18,248 5.0 6.6 5.2 5.3 10.0 2.4 9.1 3.7 3.4 8.7 4.3 12.3 16.1 7.7
With own children under
18 years old............ 8,991 20.4 7.5 7.3 4.0 7.2 1.8 9.5 3.1 1.8 7.4 2.7 10.1 11.1 6.0
Women:
No own children under
18 years old............ 23,857 1.7 9.8 5.5 4.1 12.9 5.3 10.9 3.3 6.9 6.1 3.9 5.6 15.7 8.3
With own children under
18 years old............ 13,417 4.6 14.0 8.3 2.0 11.2 3.9 13.3 1.7 5.1 5.3 2.6 5.4 14.0 8.6
Employment status
Civilian labor force....... 44,974 7.3 9.2 6.7 3.7 10.1 3.2 11.5 3.4 4.0 7.6 3.6 8.1 14.2 7.5
Employed................. 42,083 7.3 9.4 6.8 3.7 9.8 3.0 11.8 3.4 3.8 7.8 3.5 8.0 14.0 7.5
Full time (7).......... 32,568 8.3 8.9 7.0 3.7 9.6 2.9 12.4 3.6 3.5 7.9 3.3 8.0 13.6 7.2
Part time (8).......... 9,515 3.8 11.2 6.2 3.8 10.6 3.5 9.7 2.9 5.0 7.3 4.2 8.0 15.4 8.4
Unemployed............... 2,891 6.5 6.6 5.2 3.5 13.8 5.0 8.1 2.7 6.4 5.2 3.7 8.8 15.9 8.6
Not in the labor force..... 19,539 2.5 10.0 5.2 4.7 12.9 4.9 8.9 2.2 6.7 5.2 3.6 8.2 16.4 8.6
1 Main organization is defined as the organization for which the volunteer worked the most hours during the year. See the Technical
Note for more details.
2 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
3 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
4 Includes persons with bachelor's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
5 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
6 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other
related and unrelated children.
7 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
8 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from
September 1, 2011, through the survey period in September 2012. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and
Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be
of any race.
Table 6. Volunteers by how they became involved with main organization for which volunteer activities were performed
and selected characteristics, September 2012
Percent distribution of how volunteers became involved with main
organization (1)
Total Was asked by:
Characteristics in volun- Not
September 2012 teers Approach- report-
(thou- ed the Rela- Someone ing how
sands) Total organi- Total Boss or tive in the Other became
zation (2) employer friend, organi- Some- in-
or zation/ one volved
co- school else
worker
Sex
Total, both sexes......... 64,513 100.0 42.1 41.6 1.4 14.8 23.8 1.4 13.0 3.4
Men.................... 27,238 100.0 41.4 42.6 1.5 16.0 23.5 1.5 12.6 3.4
Women.................. 37,274 100.0 42.6 40.8 1.3 13.9 24.1 1.3 13.2 3.4
Age
Total, 16 years and
over...................... 64,513 100.0 42.1 41.6 1.4 14.8 23.8 1.4 13.0 3.4
16 to 24 years.......... 8,776 100.0 40.8 39.2 1.0 16.3 19.7 2.1 15.4 4.6
16 to 19 years....... 4,644 100.0 40.7 40.3 .2 16.2 21.4 2.4 14.7 4.3
20 to 24 years....... 4,132 100.0 41.0 38.0 1.9 16.5 17.8 1.7 16.1 4.9
25 years and over....... 55,737 100.0 42.3 41.9 1.4 14.6 24.5 1.2 12.6 3.2
25 to 34 years....... 9,513 100.0 42.5 43.2 2.5 15.7 23.6 1.1 11.2 3.2
35 to 44 years....... 12,527 100.0 41.8 42.8 1.7 13.8 26.0 1.2 12.6 2.8
45 to 54 years....... 12,777 100.0 41.3 42.7 1.4 14.4 25.7 .9 12.9 3.2
55 to 64 years....... 10,619 100.0 42.5 40.5 1.3 14.7 22.7 1.5 13.4 3.6
65 years and over.... 10,301 100.0 43.5 40.3 .2 14.4 23.8 1.6 12.6 3.6
Race and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
White..................... 53,778 100.0 42.0 41.9 1.4 15.0 23.9 1.4 12.8 3.3
Black or African
American.................. 6,316 100.0 41.6 40.1 1.2 13.6 23.6 1.4 14.1 4.3
Asian..................... 2,524 100.0 46.8 36.9 1.4 11.6 22.4 1.2 12.8 3.5
Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity................ 5,635 100.0 44.5 40.7 1.7 13.5 24.3 1.0 11.2 3.6
Educational attainment (3)
Less than a high
school diploma........... 2,177 100.0 44.2 42.2 .5 15.3 25.4 .9 10.4 3.2
High school graduates,
no college (4)........... 10,527 100.0 42.0 42.8 1.1 15.8 24.5 1.2 12.4 2.8
Some college or
associate degree ........ 15,832 100.0 41.8 42.2 1.6 15.2 23.9 1.3 12.9 3.0
Bachelor's degree and
higher (5)............... 27,202 100.0 42.4 41.4 1.5 13.6 24.8 1.3 12.6 3.5
Marital status
Single, never married..... 14,920 100.0 41.4 39.6 1.6 16.7 19.3 1.9 14.4 4.6
Married, spouse present... 39,290 100.0 41.9 42.7 1.3 14.1 25.9 1.1 12.4 3.0
Other marital status (6).. 10,302 100.0 43.5 39.9 1.2 14.5 22.4 1.6 13.1 3.5
................
Presence of own children
under 18 years (7)
Men:
No own children under
18 years old.......... 18,248 100.0 41.1 41.8 1.3 16.8 21.6 1.8 13.4 3.7
With own children under
18 years old.......... 8,991 100.0 41.9 44.4 1.8 14.4 27.2 .9 10.9 2.9
Women:
No own children under
18 years old.......... 23,857 100.0 43.4 39.2 1.3 15.5 20.7 1.4 13.5 3.9
With own children under
18 years old.......... 13,417 100.0 41.1 43.5 1.2 11.0 30.1 1.0 12.8 2.6
Employment status
Civilian labor force..... 44,974 100.0 41.2 42.3 1.9 15.2 23.7 1.3 13.1 3.3
Employed............... 42,083 100.0 41.1 42.5 2.0 15.1 23.8 1.3 13.1 3.3
Full time (8)........ 32,568 100.0 41.0 42.8 2.3 15.5 23.6 1.2 12.9 3.3
Part time (9)........ 9,515 100.0 41.5 41.5 .9 14.1 24.7 1.7 13.6 3.3
Unemployed............. 2,891 100.0 43.2 40.1 .8 15.5 22.0 1.4 13.4 3.2
Not in the labor force... 19,539 100.0 44.0 39.7 .1 13.9 24.1 1.4 12.6 3.7
1 Main organization is defined as the organization for which the volunteer worked the most hours during the year.
See the Technical Note for more details.
2 Includes persons who did not specify who asked them to volunteer, not shown separately.
3 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
4 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
5 Includes persons with bachelor's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
6 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
7 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are nieces, nephews,
grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.
8 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
9 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any
point from September 1, 2011, through the survey period in September 2012. Estimates for the above race groups (white,
black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Persons whose
ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
United States Department of Labor
