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Wealthy households are donating less after a surge of generosity in 2020

Oct 4, 2023
A biennial survey out this week from Indiana University and Bank of America also finds that volunteering rebounded among the affluent.
The average amount that affluent households gave last year fell to roughly $35,000 last year.
CatLane/Getty Images

With volunteerism in decline, this nonprofit turned to seniors

Sep 21, 2023
When COVID hit, the volunteers on that many nonprofits depended upon disappeared.
As the pandemic has waned, the nonprofit School on Wheels — which serves children who live on Skid Row — has turned to recruiting seniors.
Fredric J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Aid groups scramble to prepare homes for Afghan evacuees

Aug 20, 2021
The Biden administration has expanded the Special Immigrant Visa program to allow more Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the war to resettle here.
Laura Thompson Osuri, executive director of Homes Not Borders, tosses a pillow to volunteer Amal Abuldood as they prepare an apartment for an Afghan family soon to arrive on Special Immigrant Visas.
Kimberly Adams

Adding up the economic benefits of volunteering during a pandemic

Jun 4, 2021
One study found the net benefit from a British health service volunteer program equated to a $627 million boost for the economy.
During the pandemic, volunteers in England got the same wellbeing boost that they would get from receiving a $2,500 bonus, new research from the London School of Economics reveals this week. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

Charities, nonprofits alter pandemic volunteer operations

Jan 18, 2021
Even volunteer work has gone remote. That approach has made it easier for more people to join in.
Food delivery, online tutoring and virtual wellness checks are among the types of volunteer work prevalent during the pandemic.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Recreational trails are seen as an economic boon

Jan 3, 2020
Cities around the country have long had to worry about roads. Now, with the help of volunteers, they’re also investing more heavily in trails.
Retired Olympic gold medalist Kikkan Randall leads dozens of young Nordic skiers on a workout at the Grand Avenue Nordic Center in Duluth, Minnesota.
Dan Kraker

Retired California chef builds community by volunteering

Jul 29, 2019
Communities benefit greatly from experience that retirees offer.
Emam Saber, 77, trims skin off chicken pieces he’ll bake at his San Francisco home. Saber, now retired, used to work as a chef at San Francisco hotels, including the St. Francis and Fairmont.
Sean Havey for California Dream

For public good, not for profit.

Private philanthropy in Midland tries to make up for government shortfalls

May 17, 2018
Midland, which has only one homeless shelter with 20 beds but 264 homeless people, is resistant to government aid for its needy residents.
A billboard promotes the oil industry along a road in Midland on February 6, 2015 in Midland, Texas. 
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Volunteer time is worth almost $25 an hour to nonprofits

Apr 30, 2018
The group Independent Sector tracks the value of volunteer work. This year, it averages $24.69 per hour, up more than 2 percent from last year. Independent Sector says 63 million Americans volunteer about 8 billion hours of their time per year.  Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

Days off to volunteer is an increasingly attractive benefit for workers

Jan 16, 2017
MLK Day has become a day of service for many. Those that are off may take the time to volunteer. For others, their employers may provide a day for annual volunteering, a benefit that is especially attractive to younger workers. Click the above audio player to hear the full story.