Indicator : Volunteer work

Rationale: Volunteerism reflects a sense of commitment to community.

About this indicator: The percentage of surveyed adults who volunteer has increased slightly since 1993, from about 62 percent to 66 percent. In a statewide telephone survey, about 800 people were asked: “In the past six months have you volunteered your time to help at a school, for a nonprofit or government program, at your church or temple, in your neighborhood, or for a community group?”

These activities might include being a church usher, helping at a hospital or nursing home, or being a scout leader. Volunteer work, as defined in this survey, also includes people who help others informally, not just through an organization.

For comparison: In a 2001 national survey conducted by Independent Sector, 44 percent of adults said they volunteer with a formal organization. In a 1995 Gallup Survey, 49 percent of adults said they volunteered. The Gallup Survey found a marked increase from 1993 to 1995. However, neither national survey is directly comparable with the Minnesota survey, because they asked different questions and defined volunteerism differently.

Things to think about: People who are active in civic, religious or other organizations have a tendency to volunteer more often in other activities than people who aren't active, and those who are asked to volunteer are more likely to do so.

Technical notes: Both the 2001 and 1999 telephone surveys included about 800 respondents, yielding a 95 percent probability that the survey results were within 3.5 percentage points of the results that would be obtained from surveying the entire Minnesota population.

Sources:

• University of Minnesota, Minnesota Center for Survey Research, Minnesota State Survey, www.cura.umn.edu
• The Gallup Organization, National Gallup Survey, www.gallup.com
• Independent Sector, Giving & Volunteering in the United States 2001, www.IndependentSector.org

Related indicators:

• Nearby support
• In-home help for older people