Every two years, AmeriCorps conducts the most robust longitudinal survey about volunteerism and other forms of civic engagement in the United States in partnership with the US Census Bureau. The data informs Volunteering and Civic Life in America, AmeriCorps’ comprehensive report about civic engagement trends in the United States. The latest report examines organizational volunteering, helping others informally, charitable giving, and other civic behaviors from September 2020-2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the research, Americans of all ages and backgrounds contributed countless hours to their communities through formal and informal volunteerism between 2020 and 2021 during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 51 percent of Americans, or 124.7 million people, informally helped friends, neighbors, or community members at least once a month.
Additionally. more than 23 percent of Americans, or 60.7 million people, formally volunteered, giving more than 4.1 billion hours of service with an estimated economic value of $122.9 billion.
Visit AmeriCorps.gov/VolunteeringInAmerica for more information about national demographics, your state, the 12 largest metropolitan areas, and more. Follow the digital conversation about Volunteering and Civic Life in America throughout the year on AmeriCorps’ Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Don’t forget to follow the #AmericaVolunteers hashtag.
Share the news about your state! Click through the tabs below to find communications resources, sample social media, and graphics.
Please note: for state and metro areas, AmeriCorps provided an example using one state and one metro area for you to fill in the blanks with your area's information and downloaded graphics.
In this toolkit you will find helpful tips, resources, and materials that your organization can use with your audiences to talk about the importance of volunteering in your community.
Use the following emails to get your questions answered:
Email: socialmedia@cns.gov
Email: pressoffice@cns.gov
AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement.