Human Appeal USA, an international non-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) recently released a paper entitled "Volunteering and Charity - The Backbone of American Communities." According to the NGO, based in Mission Viejo, California, findings from its survey "unveil the essence of volunteerism in the United States, offering valuable insights into the motivations, impact, and behaviors that characterize American volunteering."

Among the findings:

• Over 55% of volunteers are driven by the desire to "help others and have a positive impact," while 56% cite "helping their community" as their primary motivation.
• Local engagement is at the heart of American volunteerism: 62% of volunteers dedicate their time to their local towns, with 38% focusing on their home state.
• Volunteering extends beyond traditional charitable work: over 28% of respondents support healthcare initiatives, playing a vital role in improving US healthcare access.
• On average, American volunteers invest 62.7 hours per year, valued at $1,869.09 per volunteer.

The paper also highlights personal benefits to volunteering, including a greater sense of community (57%) and forming new friendships (52%). An overwhelming 93% are likely to recommend volunteering to others.

However, rising living costs have affected one third of volunteers, limiting their involvement due to additional costs such as travel and other expenses. In response, the paper explores how organizations can highlight the non-monetary benefits of volunteering to maintain charitable engagement.

To download the full report, which provides useful data for presentations, click here