Activities: Activities are the specific tasks the volunteer did for an organization. Examples include tutoring, fundraising, and serving food.
Additional Cities: 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.
Adult: Individuals aged 16 years old and older.
Attending Public Meetings Rate: Calculated from the Current Population question: “In the last year, have you attended any public meetings in which there was discussion of community affairs?”
Baby Boomers: Individuals born between 1946 and 1964.
College Graduate Rate: The percentage of residents who have graduated from college.
College Students: Individuals aged 16-24 years old who are enrolled in college.
Commuting Time Average: Demonstrates the average number of minutes spent traveling from home to work for residents who don’t work at home only.
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.
Current Population Survey (CPS) Volunteer Supplement: The Volunteer Supplement collects information on the incidence of volunteering, the characteristics of volunteers, and civic life indicators in the United States as the September supplement to the Current Population Survey.
Customizable Profile: A profile of a specified area that displays charts and graphs selected by the individual user of volunteering statistics and volunteering related information in that area.
High School Education Rate: The percentage of residents with a high school diploma or GED.
Homeownership Rate: The percentage of residents who live in homes that are owned by a household resident.
Intensive Volunteer Rate: The percentage of people who served more than 100 hours for or through an organization(s) during the year prior to the CPS Survey Volunteer Supplement.
Large Cities: 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.
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA): The Office of Management and Budget (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.
Mid-Size Cities: 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.
Millennial Generation: Individuals born in 1982 and after who are at least 16 years old. Information on this Web site was collected through the Current Population Survey Volunteer Supplement, which does not collect data on individuals ages 15 and younger.
Multi-Unit Housing Rate: The percentage of residents who live in buildings that contain more than one housing unit.
National Service: 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.
Older Adults: Individuals aged 65 years old and older.
Organizations: Organizations are established associations, societies, or nonprofits who share a common interest. Examples include youth groups, civic organizations, churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions.
Pooled Volunteer Rate: The volunteer rate as an average rate calculated using data from two or more years.
Population Density: Population per square mile.
Poverty Rate: The percentage of residents who are living below the federal poverty line.
Standard Profile: A standard profile is a data profile of a specified area that displays charts and graphs of volunteering statistics and volunteering-related information for that area.
Technical Note: This document provides background information on data sources and survey instruments, addresses issues of statistical reliability, and defines terms used in the report.
Teenagers: Individuals aged 16 to 19 years old. Information on this Web site was collected through the Current Population Survey Volunteer Supplement, which does not collect data on individuals ages 15 and younger.
Three-Year Moving Average: Shows data that combines responses from the 2005, 2006, and 2007 volunteer supplements to increase the reliability of the estimates.
Volunteer: Persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities 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.
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: Volunteer hours per capita are calculated as the total volunteer hours served divided by the population of that specific area.
Volunteer Rate: The percentage of individuals who responded on the Current Population Survey’s Volunteer Supplement that they had performed unpaid volunteer activities at any point during the 12-month period that preceded the survey.
Volunteer Retention: Occurs when an individual performs volunteer service with an organization during one year and then returns to perform additional service in the following year.
Working with Neighbors Rate: Calculated from the Current Population question: “In the last year, have you worked with other people in your neighborhood to fix or improve something?”
Young Adults: Individuals aged 16 to 24 years old.