NEW YORK — Questions about younger generations' community service habits abound for nonprofits, which are contending with an aging volunteer base whose participation levels are still rebounding from pandemic drop-offs.
kAm%96C6 2C6 D@>6 D:8?D[ 9@H6G6C[ E92E J@F?8 A6@A=6 2C6 8:G:?8 324< — E9@F89 E96:C 492C:E23=6 H@C<D >:89E 92AA6? =6DD 7@C>2==J 2?5 >@C6 DA@C25:42==J]k^Am
kAmp3@FE g :? `_ @7 `a\ E@ ad\J62C\@=5D 92G6 6?82865 :? D@>6 7@C> @7 4@>>F?:EJ D6CG:46 @C G@=F?E66C:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 ?6H DFCG6J 3J %96 p==DE2E6 u@F?52E:@? 2?5 v2==FA]k^Am
kAmp>@?8 J@F?8 A6@A=6 H9@ G@=F?E66C[ 23@FE EH@\E9:C5D D2:5 E92E 96=A:?8 @E96CD @C >2<:?8 2 5:776C6?46 H2D Q2 >2;@C C62D@?Q 7@C E96:C G@=F?E66C:?8] p3@FE e :? `_ D2:5 2 E@A C62D@? H2D E96 23:=:EJ E@ 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ E96:C 4@>>F?:EJ[ 2?5 C@F89=J 92=7 D2:5 E92E 23@FE DFAA@CE:?8 2 42FD6 E96J H6C6 A2DD:@?2E6 23@FE]k^Am
kAmQ(96? H6 EJA:42==J E9:?< @7 D6CG:46 :E 42? 36 G6CJ ?2CC@H] ~7[ =:<6[ <:5D A:4<:?8 FA =:EE6C @C 6?828:?8 :? 7@@5 5C:G6D[Q D2:5 +@ë y6?<:?D[ aa[ H9@ @G6CD66D C64CF:E>6?E 7@C 2 J@FE9 6?8286>6?E ?@?AC@7:E 42==65 r:G:4D &?A=F8865] Q%92E 2== 567:?:E6=J 4@F?ED 2D D6CG:46] qFE x E9:?< 7@C >6[ 9@H x E9:?< 23@FE :E :D ;FDE A6@A=6 96=A:?8 @E96C A6@A=6] p?5 E92EVD[ x E9:?<[ 2 C62==J 3C@25 3F4<6E]Qk^Am
kAm%96D6 2EE:EF56D 92G6 AC@>AE65 D@>6 J@FE9\724:?8 A9:=2?E9C@A:6D E@ C6E9:?< G@=F?E66C:D> 7@C C:D:?8 86?6C2E:@?D[ H9@ @7E6? 6IAC6DD 2 56D:C6 7@C :?\A6CD@? 4@??64E:@?D 2?5 :>A24E 3FE E6?5 E@ DECF88=6 H:E9 7:?5:?8 @FE 23@FE D6CG:46 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2?5 7:EE:?8 E96> :?E@ E96:C C@FE:?6D] p3@FE 92=7 @7 C6DA@?56?ED H9@ C6A@CE ?6G6C G@=F?E66C:?8 E@=5 v2==FA E92E ?@E <?@H:?8 H96C6 E@ 7:?5 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2?5 2 =24< @7 E:>6 925 AC6G6?E65 E96> 7C@> D6CG:46]k^Am
Karter Hardeman, 7, left, and Janayla Ralsey, 8, center, read with volunteer Joshua Banks, right, during an after-school literacy program through the Pure Hope Project in Atlanta on April 6, 2023.
Alex Slitz, Associated Press
k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp4ED @7 <:?5?6DD 2?5 5@?2E:@?D AC@G6 A@AF=2Ck^DA2?mk^9am
kAmv6?6C2E:@?D +[ 3@C? C@F89=J 36EH66? `hhf E@ a_`a[ 2?5 p=A92[ 2AAC@I:>2E6=J a_`a E@ a_ac[ 2AA62C E@ D6CG6 E96:C 4@>>F?:E:6D :? H2JD E92E 5@?VE :?G@=G6 E96 ?@?AC@7:E DECF4EFC6]k^Am
kAmp3@FE f :? `_ @7 `a\ E@ ad\J62C\@=5D D2:5 E96JVG6 96=A65 D@>6@?6 2E =62DE Q2 76H E:>6DQ :? E96 A2DE H66< H:E9 2 E2D< — 2 D:8? E@ p==DE2E6 u@F?52E:@? @77:4:2=D E92E J@F?8 A6@A=6 G:6H D6CG:46 >@C6 86?6C2==J[ ?@E 2D 2? 6IEC24FCC:4F=2C 3FE 2? :?8C2:?65 A2CE @7 52:=J =:76]k^Am
kAm~?=J 23@FE ` :? `_ J@F?8 A6@A=6 H9@ 925 G@=F?E66C65 D2:5 E96:C D6CG:46 24E:G:E:6D H6C6 2== C6BF:C65[ DF49 2D E9C@F89 D49@@= @C 2 4=F3] p3@FE 92=7 D2:5 D@>6 @7 E96:C D6CG:46 H2D C6BF:C65 — 3FE ?@E 2== — 2?5 C@F89=J c :? `_ D2:5 ?@?6 @7 E96:C G@=F?E66C 24E:G:E:6D H6C6 >2?52E65]k^Am
kAmvC68 (62E96C7@C5 xx[ H9@ =625D J@FE9 6>A@H6C>6?E :?:E:2E:G6D 2D E96 s:C64E@C @7 %96 p==DE2E6 u@F?52E:@? 2?5 $@4:2= x>A24E[ D2:5 E96J ECJ ?@E E@ 6=6G2E6 2?J @?6 EJA6 @7 D6CG:46 2D >@DE G2=F23=6] w6 6>A92D:K65 E92E D6CG:46 42? 36 244@>A=:D965 :? 5:776C6?E =6?8E9D @7 E:>6[ 7C@> 2 d\>:?FE6 :?E6C24E:@? E@ 2 92=7\52J AC@;64E]k^Am
kAmQ(6 D@ 2AA=2F5 E96 J@F?8 A6@A=6 E92E 3F:=5 4@>A=6I ?@?AC@7:ED E92E D@=G6 4@>A=6I :DDF6D[Q 96 D2:5] QtBF2==J :>A@CE2?E :D E96 J@F?8 A6CD@? E92EVD E2<:?8 E:>6 E@ HC:E6 2 =6EE6C E@ 2 4=2DD>2E6 H9@ >2J ;FDE 36 ?665:?8 E@ 92G6 D@>6 6IEC2 6?4@FC286>6?E 2D E96J 86E C625J E@ E2<6 E96:C D49@@= E6DE @C ;FDE ?2G:82E6 2 ?6H D6>6DE6C]Qk^Am
kAm%96 >@DE 4@>>@? 7@C> @7 D6CG:46 7@C J@F?8 A6@A=6 :?G@=G6D 8:G:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 v2==FA A@==] p3@FE 92=7 D2:5 E96J 5@?2E6 @C @C82?:K6 5@?2E:@?D 7@C 7@@5[ 4=@E9:?8 @C @E96C :E6>D[ F?56CD4@C:?8 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 2446DD:3:=:EJ 7@C %96 p==DE2E6 u@F?52E:@? *@FE9 t>A@H6C>6?E !C@8C2> $6?:@C |2?286C p=6I "F:2?]k^Am
kAm#2==J:?8 4@?EC:3FE:@?D 5@6D?VE C6BF:C6 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? @C 4@>A=6I D4965F=:?8[ "F:2? ?@E65[ F?=:<6 >2?J D6CG:46 @AA@CEF?:E:6D] p3@FE b :? `_ J@F?8 25F=ED H9@ G@=F?E66C D2:5 E96J 925 7F?5C2:D65 7@C 2 42FD6[ 2?5 C@F89=J a :? `_ 925 C2:D65 2H2C6?6DD 7@C 2 42FD6]k^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmy6?<:?D D2:5 :EVD 8C62E E@ D66 J@F?8 A6@A=6 4@?D:56C:?8 E96:C C6D@FC46D 2?5 23:=:EJ E@ >@3:=:K6 @E96CD 369:?5 2 42FD6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmQ*@F?8 A6@A=6 2C6 A6C92AD >@C6 2H2C6 E92? 6G6C @7 E96 A@H6C @7 >@?6J[Q D96 6IA=2:?65]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp? 6>A92D:D @? J@FE9 =6256CD9:Ak^DA2?mk^9am
kAmp3@FE 92=7 @7 J@F?8 A6@A=6 D2:5 E96:C D6CG:46 6IA6C:6?46D 2==@H65 E96> E@ >2<6 49@:46D[ 2DD:DE H:E9 A=2??:?8[ @C 96=A =625 2E =62DE QD@>6E:>6D[Q 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 v2==FA 2?2=JD:D] %96 p==DE2E6 u@F?52E:@? 2:>D E@ :?4C62D6 E92E 7:8FC6 3J 5:C64E:?8 >@C6 7F?5:?8 E@H2C5 E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 J@FE9\=65 G@=F?E66C @AA@CEF?:E:6D]k^Am
kAmv2==FA 7@F?5 E92E H96? J@F?8 A6@A=6 5@ =625[ :E :D >@DE @7E6? 3J 49@@D:?8 E96:C D6CG:46 24E:G:E:6D] %96J 2C6 =6DD 7C6BF6?E=J 8:G6? E96 492?46 E@ 96=A 564:56 9@H D6CG:46 H:== 36 244@>A=:D965[ D6E 8@2=D[ E2<6 492C86 @7 2? 24E:G:EJ @C A=2? E96 6IA6C:6?46]k^Am
kAmy6?<:?D D2:5 J@F?86C G@=F?E66CD 2C6 EJA:42==J C6DEC:4E65 E@ 9:89H2J =:EE6C A:4<FAD 2?5 42??65 7@@5 5C:G6D] $96 DF886DE65 ?@?AC@7:ED @776C >@C6 56G6=@A>6?E2==J 2AAC@AC:2E6 24E:G:E:6D[ ?@E:?8 E92E D6CG:46 @AA@CEF?:E:6D DF:E23=6 7@C 7:G6\J62C\@=5D 5:776C 8C62E=J 7C@> E9@D6 7@C a_\J62C\@=5D]k^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm$E@CJE6==:?8 :D @?6 7@C> @7 D6CG:46 y6?<:?D DF886DE65 7@C v6? + G@=F?E66CD @? E96 @=56C 6?5 @7 E96 286 C2?86]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmQxEVD ?@E E92E J@F?8 A6@A=6 5@?VE 42C6[Q y6?<:?D D2:5] Q(6VC6 ?@E ?646DD2C:=J AC@G:5:?8 E96 C:89E @AA@CEF?:E:6D E92E 24EF2==J =6E J@F?8 A6@A=6 766= =:<6 E96JVC6 D9@H:?8 FA 2D E96:C 7F== D6=G6D]Qk^Am
k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%2:=@C65[ D6=7\>2?2865 @AA@CEF?:E:6D H:E9 E96 p>6C:42? #65 rC@DDk^DA2?mk^9am
kAm~?6 @7 E96 4@F?ECJVD =2C86DE 5:D2DE6C C6=:67 @C82?:K2E:@?D 92D D66? 2 J@FE9 G@=F?E66C:?8 DFC86 7@==@H:?8 E96 A2?56>:4]k^Am
kAmp>6C:42? #65 rC@DD @77:4:2=D C6A@CE65 2 adT :?4C62D6 :? v6? + G@=F?E66CD[ :ED 72DE6DE\8C@H:?8 2?5 =2C86DE 286 8C@FA[ 7C@> a_ac E@ a_ad] |2EE q6CEC2>[ E96 ?@?AC@7:EVD G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 G@=F?E66C D6CG:46D[ 2EEC:3FE65 E96 C:D6 E@ 8C62E6C A2CE:4:A2E:@? 2>@?8 E96:C >@C6 E92? `c__ D6=7\CF? J@FE9 4=F3D]k^Am
kAm~7E6? 9@FD65 :? 9:89 D49@@=D[ E96D6 4=F3D 2==@H DEF56?ED E@ >2?286 E96 H2JD E96J 6?8286 H:E9 E96 p>6C:42? #65 rC@DD] q6CEC2> D2:5 E96D6 2C6 ?@E Q@?6\D:K6\7:ED\2==Q 8C@FAD]k^Am
kAm%96 ?@?AC@7:E 9@A6D E@ 86E >@C6 J@FE9 @? 3@2C5 H:E9 :ED @G6C2== >:DD:@? 3J 2==@H:?8 4=F3D E96 7=6I:3:=:EJ E@ 5@ 2D >2?J @C 2D 76H 24E:G:E:6D 2D A@DD:3=6] %92E :?4=F56D 4@>>F?:EJ 65F42E:@? 2?5 AC6A2C65?6DD EC2:?:?8[ 3=@@5 5C:G6D[ :?E6C?2E:@?2= 9F>2?:E2C:2? =2H 42>A2:8?D[ 2?5 7F?5C2:D6CD 7@C >62D=6D 2?5 CF36==2]k^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 p>6C:42? #65 rC@DD 4@>>F?:42E6D E96D6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E9C@F89 6>2:=D 2?5 E6IED 3642FD6 J@F?8 A6@A=6 E@=5 E96> E96J H2?E65 >@C6 >6DD28:?8 E9C@F89 E9@D6 492??6=D] q6CEC2> D2:5 E96J 2C6 2=D@ =@H6C:?8 E96 32CC:6C E@ 6?ECJ 3J A6C>:EE:?8 F?56C286 2AA=:42?ED E@ 5:C64E=J EC:886C A2C6?E2= 4@?D6?E C6BF6DED H96? E96J D:8? FA E@ G@=F?E66C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 >256\E@\>62DFC6 2AAC@249 C64@8?:K6D E92E G@=F?E66CDV >@E:G2E:@?D 492?86 @G6C E:>6] q6CEC2> 24<?@H=65865 E92E ?@E 6G6CJ@?6 ;@:?D E96 #65 rC@DD E@ 5@ H66<=J D6CG:46 7@C D6G6C2= J62CD] r@>>:E>6?ED 492?86 2D 9:89 D49@@=6CD EC2?D:E:@? :?E@ 4@==686 @C 62C=J\42C66C AC@76DD:@?2=D D6EE=6 5@H?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmqJ 3F:=5:?8 @FE D9@CE\E6C> G@=F?E66C @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2?5 AC@;64E\32D65 D6CG:46[ q6CEC2> D2:5[ ?@?AC@7:ED 42? >66E :?5:G:5F2=DV 6G6C\6G@=G:?8 42A24:E:6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmQ%96C6VD =@ED @7 7@=<D H9@ H2?E E@ 5@ EC25:E:@?2= G@=F?E66C:?8] %96C6VD =@ED @7 7@=<D H9@ H2?E E@ 5@ 2 @?6\E:>6 AC@;64E] p?5 E96C6VD =@ED @7 7@=<D H9@ H2?E E@ >2J36 5@ D@>6E9:?8 E9C@F89 2 4=F3 @C D49@@= @C E9C@F89 E96:C D6CG:46 @C82?:K2E:@?[Q 96 D2:5] Qx7 H6 42? 4@?E:?F6 E@ H@C< 92C5 E@ AFE 2== E9@D6 A6@A=6 E@86E96C[ E92EVD 9@H H6V== 3F:=5 E92E H@C<7@C46 @7 E96 7FEFC6]Qk^DA2?mk^Am
Linley Sanders contributed reporting from Washington.
___
Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy .
___
The Gallup poll was conducted Nov. 17-Dec. 1, 2025, among 3,013 U.S. youth and young adults ages 12-25, using samples drawn from Gallup's probability-based panel. The margin of sampling error for youth and young adults overall is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
Stay up-to-date on what's happening
Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!
