Points of Light Releases New Report on Urgent Need to Increase Investment in Volunteering

Points of Light, a global leader in volunteering, today announces the release of a new report, From Nice to Necessary: Unleashing the Impact of Volunteering Through Transformative Investment. The report, informed with research conducted by The Bridgespan Group, a global nonprofit advisory firm, sheds new light on the essential role volunteers play in nonprofit and social sector success, as well as the need for greater investment in volunteer engagement and infrastructure.

With volunteer participation rates stagnating between 20 and 30 percent for decades and only 28 percent of the U.S. population currently engaged in formal volunteering, the report highlights both the challenges of sustaining volunteering as well as the benefits. The personal and societal benefits of volunteering have been well documented. At a moment where people are seeking tangible ways to connect with their communities and effective ways to have impact on the issues they care most about, the importance of investment in successful and rewarding volunteer opportunities has never been greater. While volunteers are unpaid, they are not free – nonprofits must allocate resources for recruitment, training and management. Yet only 0.19 percent of foundation giving over the last decade has supported volunteer development.

“For too long, volunteering has been seen as a ‘nice-to-have’ rather than a necessity for meeting our biggest challenges,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of Points of Light. “Volunteers make up a third of the nonprofit workforce and provide essential people power to causes, yet investment in the infrastructure to support nonprofit volunteers has remained critically low. This report is a wake-up call. We must shift our perspective and recognize that funding volunteer engagement is critical to the well-being of individuals, organizations, communities and society itself.”

The report highlights the profound benefits of volunteering at every level. For individuals, volunteering has been shown to improve mental and physical well-being, reduce loneliness and foster skill development. Communities benefit from essential services that may otherwise be unsustainable without volunteer support. At a societal level, increased volunteer engagement fosters civic participation and helps bridge social divides, creating a more connected and resilient nation.

In response to the findings, Points of Light is taking action to address the gaps identified in the report and drive a national volunteer movement to increase engagement. Specifically, the organization will:

• Create a National Coalition: Lead the creation of a coalition of partners to develop and implement a national plan for increasing volunteering in the U.S., with the goal of doubling national formal volunteering rates by 2035.
• Invest in Nonprofit Capacity Building: Prioritize investments in nonprofit capacity building to help organizations gather better data and insights, enhancing their ability to measure and demonstrate the value of volunteers. Points of Light will also leverage the deep experience and on-the-ground knowledge of its Global Affiliate Network — comprised of 120 leading volunteer mobilizing organizations — to champion, inform and accelerate volunteer engagement efforts.
• Convene a Research Advisory Council: Bring together a research advisory council to create a comprehensive research agenda, focusing on filling the gaps identified in the report and further understanding the true impact of volunteering.
• Launch New Storytelling: Amplify stories of impact to reignite a spirit of service and volunteering in the U.S.

“This report is just the beginning. We are committed to translating these insights into bold, sustained action that sparks meaningful and far-reaching impact,” Sirangelo added. “The steps we are taking today are designed to build a more resilient and dynamic volunteer ecosystem — one that equips nonprofits to meet the evolving needs of communities across the country with greater strength and capacity.”

Support from sponsors UPS Foundation and Phillips 66 helped make this report possible. The full report, “From Nice to Necessary: Unleashing the Impact of Volunteering Through Transformative Investment,” is available for download at www.pointsoflight.org/report-on-volunteering.

ABOUT POINTS OF LIGHT

Points of Light is a nonpartisan, global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips, and mobilizes millions of people to create positive change through volunteering and civic engagement. Through work with nonprofits, companies and social impact leaders, the organization galvanizes volunteers to meet critical needs for healthier and more equitable communities. As the world’s largest organization dedicated to increasing volunteer service, Points of Light engages more than 3.8 million volunteers across 32 countries. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.