States Volunteering the Most

Working American adults are more likely to volunteer in their spare time than their unemployed counterparts. The high rate of volunteer participation in Vermont may be bolstered by a strong job market. Only 2.7% of the state’s labor force is out of a job, well below the 3.9% national unemployment rate. In 2018, 36.0% of 16 and over Vermonters volunteered, compared to 30.3% of Americans that age.

There are more Midwestern states with high volunteer participation rates than any other region in the country. In South Dakota, 36.3% of residents 16 and older volunteered in 2018, higher than the 30.3% of Americans that age who volunteered nationwide.

Maryland has the highest volunteer rate among mid-Atlantic states and the 13th highest of any state. The more than 1.7 million volunteers in the state contributed 181.9 hours of service last year. Additionally, over half of all Maryland adult residents donated at least $25 to charity last year.

Areas where a large share of the population graduated from high school tend also have greater volunteer participation rates. In Kansas, adults are more likely to have a high school diploma than the typical American. This may partially explain the 36.5% volunteer participation rate among the state’s adult population in 2018, a greater share than the comparable 30.3% national rate.

Wisconsin is one of several Midwestern states with especially high volunteer participation rates. Adults in Wisconsin are most likely to volunteer in sports, culture, or the arts, and the work of the 1.7 million volunteers in the state in 2018 was worth an estimated $3.9 billion.

An estimated 37.4% of adults in North Dakota — over 200,000 people — volunteered in 2018. Nationwide, just 30.3% of adults did. Lower poverty levels are associated with higher volunteer participation rates. In North Dakota, only 10.3% of the population lives in poverty, well below the 13.4% national poverty rate.

Nearly 38% of Idaho adults volunteered last year, compared to 30.3% nationwide. Churches and religious groups account for the largest share of volunteers in Idaho, followed by sports, culture, or arts organizations.

Last year, 38.7% of Maine’s adult population volunteered, the largest share in the New England region and the eighth largest share of any state nationwide. The work of the more than 425,000 volunteers in the state in 2018 was worth an estimated $948 million.

Nearly 39% of Montana residents age 16 and up volunteered last year, a larger share than in all but six other of states. Additionally, 28.1% of state residents did something positive for their neighborhood; 35.7% participated in local groups or organizations; and over half donated $25 or more to charity.

Nebraska is one of only six states where over 40% of adults volunteered in 2018. High rates of volunteerism generated $1.2 billion in value. Additionally, 54.5% of Nebraska residents regularly do favors for their neighbors, and 58.8% donated $25 or more to charity in 2018.

Areas where a large share of the population graduated from high school tend to also have greater volunteer participation rates. In Alaska, adults are more likely to have a high school diploma than Americans nationwide. This may partially explain the 40.6% volunteer participation rate among the state’s adult population in 2018, a greater share than the comparable 30.3% national volunteer rate.

An estimated 41.5% of Iowa residents age 16 and up volunteered in 2018, a larger share than in all but three other states. The more than 1 million volunteers in the state contributed a total of 56.2 million hours of service last year.

More than 1.4 million adult residents volunteered in Oregon in 2018, contributing nearly 178 million hours of services. Not only are Oregon residents more likely than most Americans to donate their time, but also they are more likely to open their wallets. A reported 62.2% of residents donated $25 or more to charity in 2018.

About 45% of adults in Minnesota volunteered last year, dedicating a total of 137.2 million hours. Nationwide, volunteerism rates are higher among adults with high school diplomas. In Minnesota, 93.1% of adults have at least a high school diploma, the largest share of any state.

Utah is the only state where over half of all adults volunteered in 2018. The 1.2 million volunteers in the state contributed 133.9 million hours of service last year. A staggering 41.2% of volunteers in the state work with religious organizations.