Most Volunteer-Friendly Cities (2026): Where Communities Lead in Civic Engagement & Volunteerism
Discover which U.S. cities have the highest volunteer participation rates, economic impact, and community engagement. Data-driven insights for nonprofits recruiting volunteers.
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More than 75.7 million Americans volunteer each year, generating billions in economic value and community impact. Yet volunteer participation is far from evenly distributed across the country. Some cities and metropolitan areas have become volunteer powerhouses, where residents give generously of their time and talent—while others lag significantly behind. Understanding which cities are most volunteer-friendly can help nonprofits and faith-based organizations strategically locate programs, recruit volunteers, and build partnerships. This report analyzes the latest federal data on volunteering by city and region, part of our comprehensive statistics hub on civic engagement and nonprofit trends.
Key takeaways
America's Volunteer Crisis: A Tale of Two Paths
Volunteering in America faces a paradox. The 2023 national volunteering rate of 28.3% represents growth of 5.1 percentage points since 2021 (the largest expansion of formal volunteering since tracking began in 2002) , yet the number of hours served per person has continued to decline . This means more people are volunteering, but each person is giving less time. Nationally, average hours served per volunteer dropped from 96.5 hours in 2017 to 70 hours in 2023 .
Recovery from the pandemic has been uneven geographically. Rebounds in formal volunteering rates were not equally distributed across states and the largest 12 MSAs; in 14 states and five of the largest 12 MSAs, rates matched or exceeded 2019 levels , while 2023 formal volunteering rates remained more than 5 percentage points below pre-pandemic levels in 11 states and the District of Columbia metropolitan area .
Salt Lake City Leads the Nation: The Volunteer-Friendly City Champions
Salt Lake City is the most neighborly city in the United States, with residents who help out their neighbors and prioritize volunteering in their daily lives . When examining formal volunteer participation, the data is even more striking. In 2023, Utah had the highest rate of residents engaged in formal volunteering at 46.6% , and Salt Lake City's metro area ranked #1 with 43% of residents who volunteered in the last year .
Yet Salt Lake City isn't alone. Redfin's 2026 rankings reveal a diverse geography of volunteer-friendly cities spanning the West, South, and Midwest. The 10 most neighborly cities are: Salt Lake City, UT; Portland, OR; Kansas City, MO; Denver, CO; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; San Diego, CA; Austin, TX; Raleigh, NC; and Tampa, FL .
These cities share common traits: strong community organizations, family-oriented demographics, and cultural emphasis on civic participation. Nonprofits recruiting volunteers in these markets will find more receptive audiences than in large coastal metros.
The Volunteer Tier System: Identifying High-Opportunity Markets
Federal data reveal distinct tiers of volunteer-friendly cities. The top tier—cities where 35%+ of adults volunteer—represents gold-standard markets for nonprofits. According to Barna's most recent data, Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York, PA has the highest percentage of weekly volunteers at 30% . These hands-on cities include Green Bay-Appleton, WI (28%); Austin, TX (27%); Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC-Asheville, NC (27%); Nashville, TN (27%); San Diego, CA (26%); Providence, RI-New Bedford, MA (25%); Salt Lake City, UT (24%); Birmingham-Anniston-Tuscaloosa, AL (24%); and Houston, TX (24%) .
By contrast, large coastal metros lag. Los Angeles Metro has a 15.1% formal volunteering rate and 41.7% informal helping rate; New York Metro has 19.4% formal and 43.6% informal . These cities, though larger in absolute volunteer numbers, have lower participation density.
For nonprofits planning programs in high-opportunity cities, the case is clear: recruit, train, and screen volunteers thoroughly using best practices. High-volunteer-participation markets also demand rigorous identity verification and background checks to protect your organization and community.
Virtual & Hybrid Volunteering: A Growing but Underutilized Channel
For the first time in 2023, the Census Bureau and AmeriCorps measured virtual volunteering. 82% of formal volunteers served completely in-person, averaging 64 hours of service, while over 13.4 million engaged in virtual or hybrid volunteering, averaging 95 hours of service . This is a critical insight for nonprofits: virtual and hybrid volunteers are more committed per capita.
Virtual and hybrid volunteers served more than 1.2 billion hours and contributed over $41.5 billion in economic value —nearly a quarter of all volunteer economic value despite representing only 18% of the volunteer base. Virtual and hybrid volunteers were slightly older (average 49 years) than in-person volunteers (average 46 years) , and people living with a disability are overrepresented among virtual and hybrid volunteers .
The implication for nonprofits is clear: offering remote volunteering opportunities—from data entry and mentoring to virtual event coordination—dramatically expands your addressable volunteer pool beyond geographic boundaries. This is particularly valuable for organizations in lower-volunteering metros.
Who Are the Most Likely Volunteers? Demographic Insights for Recruitment
Volunteering isn't random. Understanding which demographics have the highest propensity to volunteer helps nonprofits fine-tune recruitment in any city.
Family Status: Parents with children under 18 formally volunteered at a higher rate (30%) than those without children in their household (21%) . This pattern holds nationwide and across volunteer-friendly cities.
Generation: Generation X (ages 41–56) had the highest rate of all generations, with people ages 16–17 at 28% and ages 45–54 at 27% . Surprisingly, young adults (18–24) have lower participation rates, a trend that varies by city. Related insight: Youth Mentoring Volunteer Statistics (2026) show specialized programs can engage younger cohorts effectively.
Gender: The rate drop in female volunteering was substantially larger than men (8 percentage points vs. 5) but women continued to volunteer at a higher rate overall .
| Demographic Group | Formal Volunteering Rate | Informal Helping Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Parents with children <18 | 30% | 58% |
| Adults without children | 21% | 49% |
| Ages 45–54 | 27% | 54% |
| Ages 16–17 | 28% | — |
| Veterans | — | 59% |
Top Volunteer Types: Where Volunteers Focus Their Time
The majority of volunteers tutor or teach, mentor youth, prepare or serve food, or engage in general labor . Across high-participation cities, these activities are consistent and replicable. Organizations in volunteer-rich markets like Salt Lake City or Austin should emphasize these roles in recruitment messaging.
On an average day, around 4.7 million people volunteered in administrative and support activities (spending 1.56 hours) and 3.2 million in social service and care activities (spending 2.23 hours on average) . This suggests nonprofits have opportunities to match volunteers to both high-impact direct service and essential back-office roles.
Largest Metro Areas Compared: Formal & Informal Helping Rates
When comparing the 12 largest U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, Philadelphia had the highest rate of formal volunteering (28.7%) and Boston had the highest informal helping rates (57.9%) . This contrast reveals an important pattern: cities strong in community solidarity (informal helping) don't always rank highest in formal organizational volunteering.
Chicago stands out: Chicago Metro has 27.6% formal volunteering and 54.6% informal helping , placing it in the top tier for both. By contrast, Dallas has 18.8% formal and 43.0% informal , and Houston sits at 20.1% formal —both strong markets overall but with room to grow formal volunteer infrastructure.
For nonprofits: formal volunteering and informal community solidarity aren't interchangeable. A city with high informal helping may have strong neighborhood networks but weak organizational volunteer pipelines. Effective nonprofit recruitment must build on existing community strengths while creating structured volunteer pathways. See our guide on Volunteer Screening Step by Step Guidance for Nonprofits to professionalize recruitment across markets.
Economic Value of Volunteering: A $167 Billion Impact
Volunteers aren't just giving time; they're generating massive economic value. More than 75.7 million people formally volunteered through an organization in 2023, giving more than 4.99 billion hours of service with $167.2 billion of economic value .
For perspective, virtual and hybrid volunteers alone served more than 1.2 billion hours and contributed over $41.5 billion in economic value . This means that by expanding remote volunteering options, nonprofits can significantly increase their total impact.
On a per-hour basis, average hours served per volunteer dropped from 96.5 hours in 2017 to 70 hours in 2023, with half of formal volunteers serving 24 hours in 2023 (compared to 40 hours in 2017) . While this decline is concerning, it also indicates an opportunity: nonprofits that offer flexible, short-term volunteer roles aligned with modern work and family schedules are more likely to recruit success.
What this means for your volunteer program
Location matters. If your nonprofit operates in Salt Lake City, Portland, Austin, or Denver, you're in a volunteer-rich market where people actively seek volunteer opportunities. Capitalize on this by building strong onboarding, character references, and background screening processes. High-participation cities attract larger volunteer pools but also demand higher standards for safety and accountability.
If you operate in a lower-volunteering metro like Los Angeles or New York, consider three strategies: (1) Build hybrid/remote roles—tap volunteers nationally, not just locally; (2) Partner with community anchors like churches, schools, and civic organizations that already drive participation; (3) Invest in recruitment—lean into marketing and referral programs, since competition for volunteers is fiercer in these markets.
Regardless of location, professional volunteer screening is non-negotiable. As volunteerism rebounds and more people engage in service, nonprofits must balance welcome and rigor. VolunteerBadge offers affordable, FCRA-compliant background checks with identity verification—$5 per volunteer with no monthly fees—so you can confidently onboard talent without overhead burden. Whether you're managing 10 volunteers or 1,000, sign up today to streamline your screening process and protect your community.
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⬇ Download the data (.xlsx)Frequently asked questions
Q: Which city has the highest volunteer rate?
A: Salt Lake City, Utah ranks #1 nationally among large metros with 43% of residents formally volunteering. At the state level, Utah itself has the highest rate at 46.6%, followed by Vermont at 40.5%.
Q: Are volunteering rates still recovering from the pandemic?
A: Yes, but unevenly. The national formal volunteering rate is 28.3% (2023), up from 23.2% (2021)—a 22.1% growth rate. However, 5 of the largest 12 metro areas and 11 states still fall below 2019 levels. Hours per volunteer continue to decline despite rising participation numbers.
Q: Why do volunteers in some cities give more hours than others?
A: Regional culture, economic conditions, family structure, and organizational capacity all play roles. Cities with strong religious or civic traditions (Salt Lake City, Nashville, Austin) tend to have higher commitment levels. Commute time and cost of living also affect availability.
Q: Do virtual volunteers differ from in-person volunteers?
A: Yes—substantially. Virtual/hybrid volunteers average 95 hours per year vs. 64 for in-person volunteers. They skew older (49 vs. 46 years), and people with disabilities are overrepresented. They're also more committed per capita and generate nearly 25% of total volunteer economic value despite being 18% of the base.
Q: How can my nonprofit recruit more volunteers in a low-participation city?
A: Consider hybrid/remote roles to expand beyond geography; partner with trusted community anchors like churches and schools; emphasize flexible short-term commitments (20–30 hours/year rather than 50+); and invest in professional screening to build trust and safety reputation. See our guide on Why Volunteers Quit: Statistics (2026) for retention strategies.
Q: What's the economic value of a volunteer hour?
A:
In 2021, the average value of a volunteer hour was $29.95, and in 2022, the value increased to $31.80
. This varies by skill, role, and location. Administrative work may be valued lower; professional services (legal, medical, IT) much higher. Nonprofits can use these benchmarks to quantify impact in grant applications and donor reports.
Sources & references
- U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps. "New U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps Research Tracks Virtual Volunteering for First Time." 2024.
- NonProfit PRO. "Report: More Than 75.7 Million People Volunteered in America." December 2024.
- Globe Newswire. "More than 75.7 Million People Volunteered in America, AmeriCorps Reports." November 2
