Rates of volunteerism are declining: What can mentoring programs do?

By Jean Rhodes

Recent research indicates a dramatic decline in American volunteerism since 2021. The U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps (2023) reported that formal volunteer participation fell to 23.2% in 2021, the lowest recorded level in nearly two decades. This downward trend can  attributed to several factors, including economic pressures, shifting social behaviors, and the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a Stanford University study (2021), the pandemic caused a 50% reduction in in-person volunteering, with many organizations, including mentoring programs, struggling to recover despite the availability of virtual opportunities.

Economic instability has also played a crucial role; a Gallup poll (2022) found that increasing work demands and financial uncertainty have led to decreased discretionary time, making volunteerism less feasible for many Americans. Additionally, changes in civic engagement patterns have contributed to the decline. A Harvard Kennedy School report (2022) suggests that declining trust in institutions and reduced participation in religious and community organizations have weakened traditional volunteer networks. Technological shifts further complicate the issue. A study in Nonprofit Management & Leadership (2021) found that although online activism and commenting is on the rise, it often does not translate into consistent volunteer participation.

Nonprofit organizations have faced operational challenges due to the volunteer shortage. Research from the Stanford Social Innovation Review (2022) revealed that over 30% of nonprofits reported difficulties in maintaining service levels due to declining volunteer numbers. And this has disproportionately affected more intensive volunteer activities, like youth mentoring

So what are the solutions.

First, programs are increasingly leveraging flexible, skills-based volunteer models to attract younger generations. The Brookings Institution (2022) recommends that organizations integrate hybrid face-to-face and digital volunteering options (e.g., MentorPRO), shorter-term requirements, and workplace-supported volunteer programs to reinvigorate civic participation. Additionally, policy interventions such as tax incentives and employer-sponsored volunteer time off (VTO) programs could help reverse the trend.

Other solutions could include providing mentors with opportunities for workforce development and certification and relying on peer mentors, particularly in schools where there’s a ready and replenishing pool of older students.

There is also an urgent need to retain the volunteers who do step forward. In a study of 6,500 youth mentoring relationships, my colleagues and I  found that nearly 40% of matches close prematurely, with rates climbing even higher for mentors working with youth with more difficult circumstances and risks (Kupersmidt, Stump, Stelter, & Rhodes, 2017). Criminality (gang involvement or risk of becoming involved, juvenile delinquency, or court involvement) was highly predictive of early match closure, as was being a youth in foster care, immigrant, having a parent in prison, using substances, being a teen mother, and other more challenging backgrounds (see Figure below). This highlights the need for programs to do more to train and prepare their mentors for work with youth facing additional challenges. 

This is not to say that the challenges facing mentoring programs are insurmountable. But new strategies are needed to recruit, train, retain, and recognize the generous mentors who step forward to help others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Brookings Institution. (2022). Reimagining volunteerism: Strategies for engaging a new generation. Brookings.

Gallup. (2022). Volunteerism in the United States: Trends and impact. Gallup Polling.

Harvard Kennedy School. (2022). Civic life in America: Trends in participation and trust. Harvard University.

Nonprofit Management & Leadership. (2021). Digital engagement and its impact on volunteer participation. Wiley.

Stanford Social Innovation Review. (2022). The nonprofit workforce crisis: How declining volunteerism is impacting service delivery. Stanford University Press.

Stanford University. (2021). Pandemic disruptions in volunteerism: A crisis of civic engagement. Stanford Research.

U.S. Census Bureau & AmeriCorps. (2023). Volunteering and civic life in America: Trends and analysis. Government Printing Office.