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Voluntarism

Statistic # 929

"Almost two out of five caregivers - 38 percent - volunteer at a hospital, school, church, or other organization in their community. In comparison, 30 percent of adult children not providing care to a parent engage in some form of volunteer work."(p.6)

Center on an Aging Society. (2005, May). Adult children. The likelihood of providing care for an older parent. (Data Profile No. 2). Washington, DC: Center on an Aging Society. Retrieved August 21, 2005, from http://hpi.georgetown.edu/agingsociety/pubhtml/caregiver2/caregiver2.html

"This Profile provides an overview of adult children who are primary caregivers to an older parent that needs assistance performing one or more basic everyday activities…Furthermore, this Profile examines adult children that have living parents but are not primary caregivers as well as adults without any living parents. Adult children, non-caregivers and adults without living parents could be caregivers in another capacity, such as a secondary caregiver or a caregiver to a spouse or sibling."

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1216

In a 2003 survey, AARP found that "About half (51%) the 45 and older population report volunteering when asked [whether]...they volunteer for a non-profit, charity, school, hospital, religious organization, neighborhood association, civic or other group...an additional 36% reported behaviors that were not captured by the traditional volunteering question but could be considered to be in service to communities or persons." (AARP, 2003: 6).

AARP. (2003, October). 2003 Multicultural Study 2003: Time and Money: An In-Depth Look at 45+ Volunteers and Donors. Washington, DC.

AARP's 2003 multicultural project surveyed 2,069 Americans ages 45 and older by phone interview, aiming to "capture the several ways in which different race and ethnic groups give their time and money to the communities around them." (p.49)

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1217

In a 2003 survey, AARP found that "45 and older volunteers largely contribute their time sporadically--48% say they have no regular volunteer schedule, while 38% are regular volunteers, who pitch in each month." (AARP, 2003: 9)

AARP. (2003, October). 2003 Multicultural Study 2003: Time and Money: An In-Depth Look at 45+ Volunteers and Donors. Washington, DC.

AARP's 2003 multicultural project surveyed 2,069 Americans ages 45 and older by phone interview, aiming to "capture the several ways in which different race and ethnic groups give their time and money to the communities around them." (p.49)

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1218

Using 2003-2005 CPS data, the Corporation for National and Community Service found that volunteer rates vary by state, with a minimum 3-year average of 13.7% and a maximum of 51.8%. (Corporation for National and Community Service, 2006: 29).

Corporation for National and Community Service. (2006, June). Volunteering in America: State Trends and Rankings. Washington, DC.

Using the 2002 to 2005 Current Population Study volunteering data, this study presents "volunteer rates according to demographic characteristics, the distribution of hours volunteered, the types of main organizations at which volunteer activities were performed, and the most common activities performed by volunteers." (p.10)

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1219

In a 2003 survey, AARP found that "volunteers who are not employed average 19 hours per month compared to 12 hours by employed individuals, but the not employed are no more likely than the employed to be volunteers or to have regular volunteer commitments." (AARP, 2003: 9).

AARP. (2003, October). 2003 Multicultural Study 2003: Time and Money: An In-Depth Look at 45+ Volunteers and Donors. Washington, DC.

AARP's 2003 multicultural project surveyed 2,069 Americans ages 45 and older by phone interview, aiming to "capture the several ways in which different race and ethnic groups give their time and money to the communities around them." (p.49)

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1220

In a 2003 survey, AARP found that the most commonly given reasons for volunteering include: a personal responsibility to help others (65%), to make life more satisfying (58%), organizations has an established track record (51%), to help their own community (50%), to make a difference on an issue (49%), and to remain active (46%). (AARP, 2003: 28).

AARP. (2003, October). 2003 Multicultural Study 2003: Time and Money: An In-Depth Look at 45+ Volunteers and Donors. Washington, DC.

AARP's 2003 multicultural project surveyed 2,069 Americans ages 45 and older by phone interview, aiming to "capture the several ways in which different race and ethnic groups give their time and money to the communities around them." (p.49)

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1221

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 29.8% of full time workers volunteered, compared to 38.2% of part time workers, 26.4% of the unemployed, and 24.4% of those not in the labor force. (United States Department of Labor & Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2005: Table 1)

United States Department of Labor & Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2005, September). Volunteering in the United States, 2005. Washington, DC.

These data on volunteering were collected through a supplement to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS). Volunteers are defined as persons who did unpaid work (except for expenses) through or for an organization. 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." (p.1)

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1222

Employees, ages 50 to 70, who were able to reduce their hours on the job in 2002 reported an average increase of 6 annual hours volunteered in the time period from 2002 to 2004 (McNamara, 2006).

McNamara, T.K. (2006). [Analysis of data from the Health and Retirement Study, 2002-2004]. Unpublished raw data.

The Health and Retirement Study is a nationally representative study of adults age 50 and older in the United States. This analysis uses the 2002 and 2004 data.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1223

In a 2003 survey, AARP found that 10% of adults over the age of 45 cited "employer encourages [them]" as a very important motivation for volunteering. (AARP, 2003: 28)

AARP. (2003, October). 2003 Multicultural Study 2003: Time and Money: An In-Depth Look at 45+ Volunteers and Donors. Washington, DC.

AARP's 2003 multicultural project surveyed 2,069 Americans ages 45 and older by phone interview, aiming to "capture the several ways in which different race and ethnic groups give their time and money to the communities around them." (p.49)

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1224

In a 2005 survey of employees and retirees from four selected firms, "almost three quarters (72%) of employees and retirees indicated Moderate to Very High Interest in pursuing volunteer activities through the workplace in retirement" (Center for Corporate Citizenship & Volunteers of America, 2005).

The Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College & Volunteers of America. (2005, June). Expanding the Boundaries of Corporate Volunteerism: Retirees as a Valuable Resource. Chestnut Hill, MA: Burnes, K., & Gonyea, J.G.

This report is based on data collected from three sources: "1) interviews with key corporate managers from a variety of sectors; 2) focus groups with employees and retirees; and 3) quantitative survey responses of employees and retirees." (p.4)

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1567

"In 2005, 26.9 million adults (11.9%) volunteered at a religious organization, while 46.9 million adults (20.7%) volunteered for one or more secular organizations. Among adults age 50 throught 64, 7.2 million (14.2%) donated time to religion, and 10.6 million (21%) contributed their time to one or more secular casues during the same period. 4.6 million adults ages 65 and older (13.2%) volunteered to religion and 6.4 million (15.4%) volunteered to at least one secular cause." (p.3)

"This Issue Brief both describes volunteering behavior among older adults, compared to volunteering behavior among the adult population as a whole, and considers the possibilities for workplace policies to encourage or discourage volunteering in this subset of the population."

Voluntarism

Statistic # 2029

A 2007 McKinsey survey found that "two-thirds of boomers over age 50 view retirement as a time to contribute to society. Today 90 percent of the people in Habitat for Humanity's database of active volunteers are in their late 50s or early 60s."

Court, D., Farrell, D., & Forsyth, J. E. (2007). Serving aging baby boomers. McKinsey Quarterly, (4), 102-113.

McKinsey researchers surveyed 5,100 older boomers and younger members of the silent generation and conducted 32 in-home interviews that involved observing the environments of the interviewees and listening to their verbal narratives.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 2145

According to a 2007 analysis from the Center on Aging and Work, the number of hours spent on volunteer activities increases with age. On average, approximately 29% of all civilian adults volunteered from September 2004 to September 2005 (with an average of 126 total volunteer hours), of those, 30.7% were 50-64 years old (with an average of 136.5 total hours), and 24.8% were 65+ years old (with an average total of 175 hours) (fig. 5, p. 4)

Johnson, J. K. M., Pitt-Catsouphes, M., Besen, E., Smyer, M., & Matz-Costa, C. (2008). Quality of employment and life-satisfaction: A relationship that matters for older workers (Issue Brief No. 13). Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College Center on Aging & Work/Workplace Flexibility. Retrieved from http://agingandwork.bc.edu/documents/IB13_LifeSatisfaction.pdf

Drawing on data from various sources, this issue brief offers insights about how employment experiences affect the life satisfaction of older workers.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 2150

Analysis of data from the 2002 National Study of the Changing Workforce shows that "among older workers, the odds of being very satisfied with life are 63.6% higher for females than for males; 45.3% lower for white non-Hispanics than for people of other ethnic/racial backgrounds, and 8.5% higher with every additional year in age." (p. 6)

Johnson, J. K. M., Pitt-Catsouphes, M., Besen, E., Smyer, M., & Matz-Costa, C. (2008). Quality of employment and life-satisfaction: A relationship that matters for older workers (Issue Brief No. 13). Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College Center on Aging & Work/Workplace Flexibility. Retrieved from http://agingandwork.bc.edu/documents/IB13_LifeSatisfaction.pdf

Drawing on data from various sources, this issue brief offers insights about how employment experiences affect the life satisfaction of older workers.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 2179

According to a 2007 analysis of Current Population Survey data, "religious volunteers donated an average of 3.3 full time weeks per volunteer; secular volunteers donated an average of 3.1 full time weeks per volunteer to secular causes. Volunteers age 50 through 64 contributed an average of 126 annual hours (3.6 full time weeks) per volunteer to religion and 113 annual hours (3.2 full time weeks) to secular organizations. Volunteers age 65 and older donated an average of 134 annual hours (3.8 full time weeks) per volunteer to religion and 167 annual hours (4.8 full time weeks) per volunteer to secular groups." (fig. 1, p. 4)

Havens, J., & McNamara, T. K. (2007). Civic engagement: Volunteering dynamics and flexible work options (Issue Brief No. 07). Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College Center on Aging & Work/Workplace Flexibility. Retrieved from http://agingandwork.bc.edu/documents/IB07_VolunteeringDynamics_000.pdf

"This Brief both describes volunteering behavior among older adults, compared to volunteering behavior among the adult population as a whole, and considers the possibilities for workplace policies to encourage or discourage volunteering in this subset of the population." (p. 1)

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1214

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 34.2% of those ages 35-49, 30.7% of those aged 50-64, and 24.8% of those 65 and older volunteered for an organization (Havens, 2005: Table 1).

Havens, J. (2006). [Analysis of data from the Current Population Study, September 2005]. Unpublished raw data.

"The Current Population Survey (CPS) is a monthly study of about 50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey has been conducted for more than 50 years. The CPS is the primary source of information on the labor force characteristics of the U.S. population. The sample is scientifically selected to represent the civilian noninstitutional population. Respondents are interviewed to obtain information about the employment status of each member of the household 15 years of age and older. However, published data focus on those ages 16 and over. The sample provides estimates for the nation as a whole and serves as part of model-based estimates for individual states and other geographic areas. Estimates obtained from the CPS include employment, unemployment, earnings, hours of work, and other indicators...They are available by a variety of demographic characteristics including age, sex, race, marital status, and educational attainment...occupation, industry, and class of worker."

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1203

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), those aged 65 and older cited the following reasons for not volunteering: burnout (3.1%), family responsibilities or childcare problems (6.5%), health or medical problems (46.5%), lack of time (12.4%), were not asked (2.5%), no longer a member of the organization (1.3%), not interested in volunteering (5.4%), moved or lack of information, transportation, or expenses (3.1%), no longer required or relevant to current life situation (6.7%), or other reasons (11.5%). 1.1% did not report their reason for not volunteering. (Table 7)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

United States Department of Labor & Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2005, September). Volunteering in the United States, 2005. Washington, DC: United States Department of Labor & Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"These data on volunteering were collected through a supplement to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS). Volunteers are defined as persons who did unpaid work (except for expenses) through or for an organization. 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." (p.1)

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1188

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 30.2% of those aged 55 to 64 volunteered for an organization. (Table 1)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1189

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 27.3% of men aged 55 to 64 volunteered for an organization, while 32.8% of women aged 55 to 64 volunteered for an organization. (Table 1)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1190

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 24.8% of those aged 65 and older volunteered for an organization. (Table 1)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1191

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 23.1% of men aged 65 and older volunteered for an organization, while 26.0% of women aged 65 and older volunteered for an organization. (Table 1)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1192

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 19.0% of those aged 55 to 64 volunteered between 1-14 hours, 23.3% volunteered between 15-49 hours, 14.8% volunteered between 50-99 hours, 30.1% volunteered 100-499 hours, 6.6% volunteered over 500 hours, and 6.3% did not report their annual hours. (Table 2)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1193

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 13.4% of volunteers aged 65 years and older volunteered between 1-14 hours, 19.8% volunteered between 15-49 hours, 13.8% volunteered between 50-99 hours, 37.0% volunteered between 100-499 hours, 8.6% volunteered over 500 hours, and 7.4% did not report their annual hours. (Table 2)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1194

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 67.5% of volunteers aged 55 to 64 volunteered for one organization, 18.8% volunteered for two organizations, 8.6% volunteered for three organizations, 2.9% volunteered for four organizations, 2.0% volunteered for five or more organizations, and 0.2% did not report the number of organizations for which they volunteered for. (Table 3)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1195

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 69.2% of volunteers aged 65 and older volunteered for one organization, 19.7% volunteered for two organizations, 6.8% volunteered for three organizations, 2.1% volunteered for four organizations, 1.7% volunteered for five or more organizations, and 0.5% did not report the number of organizations for which they volunteered for. (Table 3)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1196

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 8.0% of volunteers aged 55-64 volunteered for a civic, political, professional, or international organization, 13.5% volunteered for an educational or youth service organization, 2.1% volunteered for an environmental or animal care organization, 8.9% volunteered for a hospital or other health organization, 1.4% volunteered for a public safety organization, 41.2% volunteered for a religious organization, 15.5% volunteered for a social or community service organization, 3.8% volunteered for a sport, hobby, cultural, or arts organization, and 4.0% volunteered for other organizations. 1.7% could not be determined. (Table 4)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1197

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 8.2% of volunteers aged 65 and older volunteered for a civic, political, professional, or international organization, 6.2% volunteered for an educational or youth service organization, 0.9% volunteered for an environmental or animal care organization, 10.1% volunteered for a hospital or other health organization, 0.8% volunteered for a public safety organization, 45.0% volunteered for a religious organization, 18.0% volunteered for a social or community service organization, 3.7% volunteered for a sport, hobby, cultural, or arts organization, and 4.7% volunteered for other organizations. 2.3% could not be determined. (Table 4)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1198

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 3.4% of volunteers aged 55-64 volunteered as a coach, referee, or supervised sports teams, 19.4% tutored or taught, 13.9% mentored youth, 17.1% were an usher, greeter, or minister, 28.5% collected, prepared, distributed, or served food, 16.7% collected, made, or distributed clothing, crafts, or goods other than food, 30.1% fundraised or sold items to raise money, 8.7% provided counseling, medical care, fire/EMS, or protective services, 14.4% provided general office services, 23.8% provided professional or management assistance, 10.7% engaged in music, performance, or other artistic activities, 22.9% engaged in general labor, and 14.3% volunteered in other capacities. (Table 5)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005. Figure from
Havens, J., & McNamara, T. K. (2007). Civic engagement: Volunteering dynamics and flexible work options (Issue Brief No. 07). Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College Center on Aging & Work/Workplace Flexibility. Retrieved October 30, 2007 from http://agingandwork.bc.edu/documents/IB07_VolunteeringDynamics_000.pdf

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1200

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 40.6% of volunteers aged 55-64 directly approached the organization to volunteer, 42.4% of volunteers were asked by someone else, 14.5% became involved in other ways, and 2.6% did not report on how they became involved in their organization. (Table 6)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1201

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), 42.1% of volunteers aged 55-64 directly approached the organization to volunteer, 41.0% of volunteers were asked by someone else (1.6%), 14.2% became involved in other ways, and 2.7% did not report on how they became involved in their organization. (Table 6)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 1202

According to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), those aged 55-64 cited the following reasons for not volunteering: burnout (3.0%), family responsibilities or childcare problems (9.5%), health or medical problems (15.8%), lack of time (40.0%), were not asked (2.9%), no longer a member of the organization (2.3%), not interested in volunteering (5.5%), moved or lack of information, transportation, or expenses (3.3%), no longer required or relevant to current life situation (6.6%), or other reasons (9.6%). 1.5% did not report their reason for not volunteering. (Table 7)

*Note: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.

Voluntarism

Statistic # 2180

A 2007 analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that "volunteer tasks vary by age groups. Some tasks, such as mentoring youth or tutoring, peak in the twenties or early thirties, then decline among other age groups. Other tasks, such as coaching sports, peak in middle age. Volunteering time to managerial or professional tasks tends to peak in the early retiree years (55 to 64), while tasks such as collecting food or providing general office assistance continue to increase with age." (fig. 2, p. 5)