The decline of volunteering in the U.S explained

The decline of volunteering in the U.S explained Rebecca Nesbit, Ph.D. from the University of Georgia, and Laurie E. Paarlberg, Ph.D. from Indiana University – Indianapolis, initiate a discussion on the decline of volunteering in the United States. They emphasize the significance of this trend and suggest ways to address it. Volunteering is an important bedrock of democratic societies, but community context shapes citizens’ willingness and ability to volunteer. Our research examined the economic and social factors associated with the decline in volunteering in the United States (U.S.) in the 2000s and 2010s, particularly the Great Recession of 2008 (Paarlberg et al. 2022; Nesbit et al. 2025). In 2025, the U.S. is again facing economic uncertainty and social unrest, and our research findings can help leaders understand the impact that current economic jolts and social upheaval may have on volunteering behaviors. In this article, we briefly highlight the primary findings from two of our published articles and discuss what those findings mean for the future of volunteering. We also make recommendations for leaders and policymakers who are interested in supporting volunteerism.