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(Washington, DC, February, 15, 2002)—As Americans heed the call for
community service, the value of the time they will give to charitable
organizations has climbed to $16.05 per hour, up from $15.39 in
2000.
INDEPENDENT SECTOR first
developed the methodology to calculate the value of volunteer time in
1980, when it was $7.46. Since then, the rate has increased steadily. The
hourly value is based on the average hourly earnings for private
nonagricultural workers as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics. This figure is then increased by 12 percent to estimate fringe
benefits.
According to INDEPENDENT
SECTOR’s Giving and Volunteering in the United
States national survey:
- In 2000, nearly half of adults (44%) or 83.9 million people
volunteered their time;
- Their work represents the equivalent of over 9 million full-time
employees at a value of $239 billion;
- The average volunteer gave 3.6 hours of time per week; and
- The annual hours for volunteering were 15.5 billion.
INDEPENDENT SECTOR found in a previous
survey that:
- Eighty-five percent of nonprofit organizations and 92 percent of
religious congregations use volunteers;
- Sixty-five percent of nonprofits and 82 percent of religious
congregations provide training for their volunteers; and
- Eighty-six percent of nonprofits and 93 percent of religious
congregations report they would use more volunteers if the volunteers
had the skills needed.
Americans who volunteer four or more hours per week will reach the
president’s goal of 4,000 lifetime volunteering hours in less than 20
years. These Americans are already giving over 250 million hours per week
to nonprofit organizations and causes.
“INDEPENDENT
SECTOR is encouraged by the president’s call for a new
cadre of volunteers. Our research indicates that millions of Americans are
on their way to reaching the president’s goal,” said Sara E. Meléndez,
president and CEO of INDEPENDENT SECTOR.
“But while 44 percent of the population volunteers, the majority of the
adult population remains an untapped resource,” added Dr.
Meléndez.
INDEPENDENT SECTOR research
shows that the best way to motivate people to volunteer is to simply ask
them. If asked, 63 percent will volunteer, compared to the 25 percent who
volunteer when not asked.
“The president has asked the question. As
many Americans contemplate what they can do to help the nation, we urge
them to look in their own backyards and volunteer with a charity in their
community. It’s as simple as picking up the phone,” said Dr. Meléndez.
Hourly
dollar value of volunteer time in past years
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INDEPENDENT SECTOR is a nonprofit,
nonpartisan coalition of more than 700 national organizations,
foundations, and corporate philanthropy programs, collectively
representing tens of thousands of charitable groups in every state across
the nation. Its mission is to promote, strengthen, and advance the
nonprofit and philanthropic community to foster private initiative for the
public good.
INDEPENDENT SECTOR
Contacts: Carla Bundy
or Patricia
Nash
Phone: 202-467-6100
Website: http://www.independentsector.org/index.htm
Email:
info@IndependentSector.org |
