(RNS) Faith-based organizations attract more volunteers than any other type of organization, according to a recent survey by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
More than one-third of the country’s almost 62 million volunteers served through religious organizations last year.
“Religious organizations are a key source of potential volunteers for nonprofit organizations,” said Nicola Goren, the corporation’s chief executive officer. “Nonprofits looking to expand their reach and impact may find it beneficial to work more closely with religious organizations in their communities, especially in these tough economic times.”
The “Volunteering in America 2009″ report released last Tuesday (July 28) showed that adults over the age of 65 and youth who regularly attend religious services are more likely than general volunteers to serve in faith-based organizations.
Also, youth from disadvantaged circumstances, who are least likely to volunteer, are most likely, when they do volunteer, to do so through their religious congregation. They are also much more likely to report that they are motivated to serve by their religious or spiritual beliefs.
The report also cited that half of African-American volunteers serve primarily through faith-based organizations.
These findings confirm previous research from the corporation that found that volunteers who serve with faith-based organizations are the most likely to continue serving. In fact, 70 percent of these volunteers continue serving from year to year, higher than any other type of volunteer.
Despite the promising results for religious community service, only about 15 percent of nonprofit charities report partnerships with faith-based organizations. At the same time, congregations report a need of “a great extent” for volunteer managers.
The “Volunteering in America 2009″ report is based on data obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics and provides the most comprehensive data assembled on volunteer trends and demographics. Volunteers are defined as persons who did unpaid work through or for an organization.
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that promotes community service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America programs.
By Lindsay Perna
Religion News Service
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