Youth Engaged in Service
What motivates youth to volunteer?
What the research says
Young people from all walks of life are inspired to volunteer because they want to help others, contribute to a cause, meet new people, and emulate people they admire. However, a Corporation for National and Community Service study notes some differences in the level of importance of different motivators:
- According to the Corporation's 2005 survey, "religious organizations and spiritual beliefs play a key role in volunteering among youth from disadvantaged circumstances."
- These young people are more likely to volunteer through their congregations and are also more apt to attend religious services regularly.
Recent research cites "notable differences" between youth from less privileged backgrounds who volunteer and their more affluent peers:
- Girls from the former group are significantly more likely to volunteer than boys from the same population.
- Parental income and education are important factors in volunteer habits. A youth from a low-income home is 18 percent more likely to volunteer when one of his or her parents has some college education. The rate goes up to 29 percent more likely to volunteer when a parent is a college graduate.
However, all youth-regardless of economic circumstance—are most likely to volunteer when they are asked.
The voice of experience…
"If you make it creative, innovative, and interesting, they will volunteer to make a difference!"
—Adraine LaRoza, ManaTEENS Program, Bradenton, FL
The opportunity to gain skills is another powerful motivator. The Corporation found that 55% of youth from disadvantaged circumstances said they volunteer to gain experience for school or work, compared to 40% of other youth volunteers.
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