Philanthropy News Digest
August 28, 2009
Americans Less Engaged in Civic Participation, Volunteerism, Report Finds As the recession drags on, many Americans are spending less time volunteering, participating in groups, or engaged in other civic activities in their communities, a new report from the National Conference on Citizenship finds. Based on a survey of nearly 3,900 individuals, the report, America’s Civic Health Index 2009 (28 pages, PDF), found that almost three-quarters (72 percent) of survey respondents said they had cut back on the time they devote to civic participation, which includes time spent volunteering or performing other civic activities in their communities, and that low-income individuals (those making less than $50,000 a year) were more likely to help others by providing food or shelter than respondents with a higher income. Overall, 50 percent of survey participants said they had given food or money to someone who was not a relative, 17 percent said they had invited a relative to live in their home, and more than 10 percent had taken in a non-relative. The report, which was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates, John S. and James L. Knight, and McCormick foundations, also found that religion and generational differences play major roles in civic engagement. Indeed, 40 percent of respondents who are frequent participants in religious services said they had increased their level of civic engagement. And while baby boomers had the lowest volunteering rate (35 percent) and members of the Millennial generation had the highest (43 percent), boomers were far more likely (38 percent) to provide material contributions such as food, money, and shelter than Millennials (28 percent). “We had hoped [that] economic hardship might trigger more compassion as people saw real suffering and needs,” said John Bridgeland, chairman of NCoC’s advisory board and CEO of Civic Enterprises. “While this is not true for volunteering, it is true for providing food and shelter. And people with the least means are giving the most.”