Resource: Report Measures Commitment to Volunteering by State

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), a federal agency and think-tank, released its annual report on volunteering in the U.S at the end of December, 2013. The report covers the year 2012.

The overall percentage of residents who volunteered by state is the primary indicator in the report of volunteering activity. The national average is 26.5 percent. Pennsylvania falls right around that average.

Here is a breakdown of PA volunteering in 2012:

• 26.7% of residents volunteer, ranking them 29th among the 50 states and Washington, DC.
• 29.1 volunteer hours per resident.
• 2.71 million volunteers.
• 297.1 million hours of service.
• $6.3 billion of service contributed.
• 51.6% of residents donate to charity.
• 8.4% of residents participate in public meetings.
• 26.3% of residents over age 55 volunteer.

In 2012, there was a slight decrease from the 2011 rate. This continues a downward trend since 2004 – when nearly 35 percent of PA residents volunteered.

Graph via CNCS website. Feature image from an infographic produced by CNCS