Volunteering in America

FAQs for the Web Site

1. How do I get copies of the photos seen on the opening page?
2. What is a standard profile and customizable profile?
3. Do the rankings include all U.S. Cities?
4. What defines a large, mid-size, or additional city?
5. How were cities selected for this Web site?
6. How were the geographic boundaries of a city defined?
7. What is a Metropolitan Statistical Area, is that different from a city?
8. How is the term "volunteer" defined?
9. If I did not serve with an organization, but I participated in a community clean up, is that volunteering?
10. How can I get more involved in volunteering?
11. What is the difference between volunteering and national service?
12. How do I learn more about the Corporation and its programs?
13. Where were the data in this Web site collected?
14. How do I learn about other research on volunteering?

1. How do I get copies of the photos seen on the opening page?

   All of the photos are listed on the Corporation for National and Community Service Media Page Photo Gallery.

2. What is a standard profile and customizable profile?

   A standardized profile is a data profile that displays charts and graphs of volunteering statistics and volunteering-related information for the nation, U.S. region, state, or major city. There is also a customizable profile that displays charts and graphs selected by the individual user of volunteering statistics and volunteering-related information for the nation, U.S. region, state, or major city.

3. Do the rankings include all U.S. Cities?

   Rankings were generated for large and mid-size cities only. Large cities include 50 of the largest cities in terms of population size. Mid-size cities are cities with a population of less than 1 million people but greater than 100,000 with a substantial sample size.

4. What defines a large, mid-size, or additional city?

   On this Web site, information was included for large, mid-size, and additional cities. Large cities include 50 of the largest cities in terms of population size. Mid-size cities are cities with a population of less than 1 million people but greater than 100,000 with a substantial Current Population Survey (CPS) sample size. Additional cities also have a population of less than 1 million people but greater than 100,000. Limited information is presented for additional cities due to the CPS sample size of this group. Cities that did not have the requisite CPS sample size were not included on this Web site.

5. How were cities selected for this Web site?

   Major cities for this report were selected based on population and sample size. Major cities are categorized as large, mid-size, and additional cities. Large cities include 50 of the largest cities in terms of population size. Mid-size cities are cities with a population of less than 1 million people but greater than 100,000 with a substantial sample size. Additional cities also have a population of less than 1 million people but greater than 100,000. Limited information is presented for additional cities due to the sample size of this group.

6. How were the geographic boundaries of a city defined?

   The geographic boundaries of a city are defined using the guidelines established for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) by the federal agency the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB publishes a comprehensive definition of MSA boundaries every 10 years to reflect population changes documented by the decennial Census. In order for an area to be designated an MSA, the area has to have at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more in population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the urban core as measured by commuting ties.

7. What is a Metropolitan Statistical Area, is that different from a city?

   The term city within this Web site refers to Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). The geographic boundaries of a city are defined using the guidelines established for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) by the federal agency the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB publishes a comprehensive definition of MSA boundaries every 10 years to reflect population changes documented by the decennial Census. In order for an area to be designated an MSA, the area has to have at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more in population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the urban core as measured by commuting ties.

8. How is the term "volunteer" defined?

   Volunteers are defined as individuals who performed unpaid volunteer activities for or through an organization at any point during the 12-month period from September 1 of the prior year through the survey week in September of the survey year.

9. If I did not serve with an organization, but I participated in a community clean up, is that volunteering?

   Within the Volunteering in America Web site, volunteers are defined as individuals who serve for or through an organization. For service events that are not coordinated by organizations, such as neighbors getting together to do work in the community, those who participate are considered to have served informally.

10. How can I get more involved in volunteering?

    There are many ways to become more involved with volunteer opportunities. Go to the Volunteer Match Web site to find an opportunity that appeals you by location and topic.

11. What is the difference between volunteering and national service?

    Volunteers are individuals who donate their time for or through an organization. National service refers to the Corporation's National Service Programs. National service participants in Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs provide dedicated volunteer service in local communities and the nation to address issues such as education, the environment, public safety, and disaster relief.

12. How do I learn more about the Corporation and its programs?

    The Corporation for National and Community Service works to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. To accomplish this mission, the Corporation provides grants and training and technical assistance to developing and expanding volunteer organizations. In addition, the Corporation explores, develops, and models effective approaches for using volunteers to meet the nation's human needs and conducts and disseminates research that helps develop and cultivate knowledge that will enhance the overall effectiveness of national and community service programs. Please visit our homepage at http://www.nationalservice.gov for more information about the Corporation at our programs.

13. Where were the data in this Web site collected?

    Data are collected through an annual supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households (approximately 100,000 adults), conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPS focuses on obtaining information on employment and unemployment for the nation's civilian, non-institutionalized population ages 16 and older. Each September, the Volunteer Supplement to the CPS collects information on the incidence of volunteering, the characteristics of volunteers, and civic life indicators in the United States. For more information, please see the Technical Note.

14. How do I learn about other research on volunteering?

    The Corporation's commitment to supporting the American culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility includes measuring the success and impact of our efforts. Performance reviews, research, and policy analysis help develop and cultivate knowledge that will enhance the overall effectiveness of the Corporation and of national and community service programs. To see more Corporation published research, go to the Research and Policy site.