Volunteer Hours by State (2026)

Comprehensive state-by-state volunteer data for 2023–2025, showing hours served, economic value, and regional trends to help nonprofits understand national volunteer impact.

American volunteers contributed nearly 4.99 billion hours of formal volunteer service between 2022 and 2023, generating over 167.2 billion in economic value. Yet this nationwide participation masks significant regional variation—from Utah's commanding volunteer participation rate to states facing critical volunteer shortages. This report is part of our volunteer demographics and statistics hub, where nonprofit leaders can dive deeper into workforce engagement trends.

Note on data sources & accuracy: This report synthesizes the most recent Census Bureau/AmeriCorps Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement (CEV) data (through September 2023), Independent Sector's 2025 Value of Volunteer Time estimates, and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics volunteer research. All figures are sourced to primary government and nonprofit research institutions. Volunteer hours reflect formal volunteering through organizations; informal helping (neighbors, community favors) is tracked separately and shows higher participation rates.

Key takeaways

75.7M Americans volunteered formally in 2023

70 average hours per volunteer annually

$36.14 national value per volunteer hour (2025)

28.3% of U.S. population age 16+ volunteered

How many people volunteer? The big picture

Over 75.7 million, or 28.3% of the U.S. population age 16 and up, formally volunteered through an organization between September 2022 and September 2023 . This marks a significant rebound: national rates of several other types of civic engagement similarly bounced back during that period, even surpassing pre-pandemic rates in some cases . However, this recovery in participation numbers masks a concerning trend in the depth of engagement.

28.3%

54.2%

Formal volunteering via organizations vs. informal helping neighbors (2023). U.S. Census Bureau & AmeriCorps

Total volunteer hours and economic value

The sheer scale of volunteer labor is staggering. Formal volunteers served an estimated 4.99 billion hours and contributed over $167.2 billion in economic value between September 2022 and 2023 . However, this represents a troubling long-term decline: the total number of volunteer hours served declined from almost 8 billion hours in 2002 to just 4.1 billion in 2021 .

That economic contribution is substantial. The estimate for the value of a volunteer hour was $36.14 in 2025 — a 3.9% increase from 2024 . When you multiply those hours by this hourly value, the result underscores why volunteer screening is critical—nonprofits are stewarding billions in human capital.

Formal volunteer hours in the U.S., 2002–2023 (long-term decline with 2023 recovery). Census Bureau/AmeriCorps CEV

Hours per volunteer: A declining trend

While more Americans volunteer, they are donating fewer hours each. Nationally, average hours served per volunteer in the previous year dropped from 96.5 hours when the CEV began in 2017 to 70 hours in 2023 . Similarly, half of formal volunteers served 40 hours in 2017 compared to 24 hours in the latest data .

This shift reflects broader changes in volunteering patterns. These trends are consistent with other evidence suggesting recent growth in episodic volunteering —shorter, one-time engagements rather than sustained long-term commitment. Virtual and hybrid volunteering offers one bright spot: on average, virtual and hybrid volunteers reported engaging in more hours of service per year (95 hours) than those who volunteered solely in-person (64 hours) .

2017 (average per volunteer) 96.5 hrs

2023 (average per volunteer) 70 hrs

Virtual/hybrid volunteers (2023) 95 hrs

In-person only volunteers (2023) 64 hrs

Average annual volunteer hours by engagement type, 2017–2023. Census Bureau & AmeriCorps

State leaders: Utah, Vermont, and beyond

Utah (40.7%) and Wyoming (39.2%) topped the list of states with the highest formal volunteering rates in 2021 . Montana (68.8%) and Nebraska (66.4%) had the highest rates of informal helping, which includes helping others outside of an organizational context like doing favors for neighbors .

State-level volunteer value also varies dramatically. Values range from $17.32 per hour for Puerto Rico to $52.06 per hour for the District of Columbia . This variation reflects regional wage differences and cost-of-living disparities, making it essential for organizations to use state-specific rates when calculating volunteer impact.

State/Region	Formal Volunteering Rate	Value per Hour (2024)
Utah	40.7%	$33.48
Wyoming	39.2%	$30.44
Montana	38.5%*	$31.34
Nebraska	37.9%*	$29.43
District of Columbia	~36%*	$51.06
U.S. National Average	28.3%	$34.79

Top volunteering states and state-by-state economic value (2021–2024). *Estimated from informal helping data. Census Bureau & AmeriCorps / Independent Sector

Demographic trends: Who volunteers and when?

Gender remains a consistent predictor of volunteering. The formal volunteering rate for women rebounded more than 5 percentage points from 2021 to 2023. Consistent with previous years, women volunteer at a higher rate (30.9 percent) than men (25.6 percent) in the latest data .

Age also plays a significant role. People ages 16-17 had the highest rate of all age groups at 28%, followed by people ages 45 to 54 at 27% . For informal helping, older Americans lead: the share of total volunteer hours accounted for by the 65-plus population grew from 18.5 percent in 2002 to 28.6 percent in 2021 .

Parenting and household composition also influence participation. People with children under age 18 helped at a higher rate (58%) than those without children in their household (49%) .

30.9%

25.6%

58%

Volunteer participation by gender and family status (2023). USAFacts/Census Bureau

Virtual and hybrid volunteering: A growing trend

The pandemic accelerated remote volunteering, and it has stuck around. Collectively, virtual and hybrid volunteers served more than 1.2 billion hours and contributed over $41.5 billion in economic value . Virtual and hybrid volunteers were slightly older than volunteers who served completely in person. On average, the typical virtual or hybrid volunteer was 49 years of age compared to 46 years of age for the typical in-person volunteer .

This trend offers opportunities for nonprofits to expand reach and retain volunteers with accessibility barriers. People living with a disability are overrepresented among virtual and hybrid volunteers. The virtual and hybrid volunteering rate was 20 percent among those living with a disability compared to 18 percent among those who were not .

Virtual/hybrid volunteer hours 1.2B hrs

In-person volunteer hours 3.79B hrs

Distribution of formal volunteer hours by delivery method (2023). AmeriCorps / NonProfit PRO

What this means for your volunteer program

These data underscore several critical imperatives for nonprofit leaders and volunteer coordinators. First, the decline in hours-per-volunteer signals that retention and engagement strategies must evolve. Understanding volunteer hours by age helps you tailor recruitment and scheduling to different cohorts.

Second, regional variation in both participation rates and economic value means you should benchmark your volunteer program against state and local norms, not just national averages. Utah's 40.7% participation rate looks radically different when compared to states with participation under 25%.

Third, safe and compliant volunteer screening is non-negotiable when stewarding billions in economic and social value. Volunteers are 4 times more likely to donate in a given year than non-volunteers, and they tend to give 2.4 times as much money, on average . They are your organization's ambassadors and trusted adults. Using affordable, FCRA-compliant background checks—like VolunteerBadge's $5 checks with identity verification—protects your mission and community.

For youth-serving nonprofits, child safety is paramount. Learn more in our guide on child safety in youth programs and the latest child safety statistics. For faith-based organizations, our church volunteer background check guide walks through FCRA requirements and best practices.

Virtual and hybrid volunteering is here to stay. Diversifying your volunteer model—whether through online volunteer background checks or flexible remote roles—expands your talent pool and improves retention among older and disabled volunteers.

Ready to strengthen your volunteer program?

VolunteerBadge provides fast, affordable FCRA-compliant background checks ($5 per volunteer) with no monthly fees—so you can screen more volunteers, protect your community, and grow with confidence.

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Download the data

Download a comprehensive Excel file with all statistics cited in this report, including state-by-state volunteer rates, economic values, hour trends, and demographic breakdowns.

⬇ Download the data (.xlsx)

Frequently asked questions

Q: Why have volunteer hours declined since 2002 even though participation is rebounding?
A: Two factors: (1) More people volunteer episodically (one-time events, short shifts) rather than committing sustained time, and (2) time constraints and work-life balance pressures limit hours per volunteer. The shift toward "bite-sized" volunteering reflects modern life, but it challenges organizations reliant on consistent, deep volunteer engagement.

Q: What is the most reliable way to calculate volunteer economic value for grant proposals?
A: Use Independent Sector's state-by-state value of volunteer time figures, updated each April. For 2025, the national average is $36.14/hour, but state rates vary significantly (e.g., $34.88 in Florida vs. $51.06 in D.C.). Always use the rate matching your service area—funders and auditors expect it.

Q: Are virtual volunteers as engaged as in-person volunteers?
A: Yes, and in some respects more so. Virtual/hybrid volunteers average 95 hours annually vs. 64 for in-person-only volunteers. They skew slightly older (avg. age 49) and include more people with disabilities, suggesting remote roles expand access and retention.

Q: Which states have the highest volunteer participation, and why?
A: Utah (40.7%), Wyoming (39.2%), and Montana (68.8% for informal helping) lead. Regional factors include strong faith-based infrastructure (especially in Utah), community-oriented culture, lower population density (building interdependence), and age demographics. States in the South show lower formal volunteering rates but similar informal helping.

Q: How does background screening affect volunteer recruitment and retention?
A: Proper screening increases trust in your organization and protects beneficiaries—both of which strengthen volunteer satisfaction and tenure. Volunteer background check services that are affordable and transparent (like VolunteerBadge) remove friction from onboarding without deterring qualified, honest volunteers.

Q: What is "informal helping" and why does it matter?
A: Informal helping—mowing a neighbor's lawn, bringing groceries, watching a friend's kids—generates 54.2% of Americans helped or exchanged favors with neighbors , higher than formal volunteering. It's a vital social safety net but typically unmeasured and uncounted in nonprofit budgets. Organizations can strengthen community by recognizing and encouraging informal help.