This news release raises a key question for public schools engaged in service-learning: Are there ways to engage the faith community in service-learning without violating 1st amendment concerns? One approach may be to partner with faith based organizations in secular service-learning activities like food pantries, literacy campaigns/book drives/tutoring programs, etc... Read the article and post your comments and ideas regarding this topic.
From: National Service Press Office
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 3:55 PM
Subject: Study Shows One-Third of
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sandy Scott
July 28, 2009 202/606-6724; sscott@cns.gov
Study Shows One-Third of
Serve through Religious Organizations
(
The Volunteering in America 2009 report found that more than one third of
“Using this information, nonprofit organizations can work to create new partnerships focusing on volunteer service,” said Joshua DuBois, executive director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. “There are millions of volunteers who want to be a part of critical efforts from mentoring children to improving schools to helping their neighbors meet their basic needs. The President has called upon all of us to join together in these difficult times, and this report highlights the possibilities of doing just that.”
Previous research from the Corporation found that volunteers who serve with faith-based organizations are the most likely to continue serving. Seventy percent of volunteers who serve primarily through religious organizations continue serving from year to year, higher than any other type of organization. Despite the popularity of volunteering through faith-based organizations, only about 15 percent of nonprofit charities report partnerships with faith-based organizations.
“Religious organizations are a key source of potential volunteers for nonprofit organizations,” said Nicola Goren, the Corporation’s acting CEO. “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 2009 report found that even during an economic downturn, when charitable giving experienced a significant drop, volunteering remained steady. Volunteering in America 2009, the most comprehensive data ever assembled on volunteer trends and demographics, found that a total of 61.8 million Americans volunteered through an organization in 2008, up one million from the previous year. Those volunteers dedicated more than 8 billion hours of service worth an estimated $162 billion.
To make it easier for Americans to volunteer, the Corporation worked with the White House to launch a new Serve.gov website in June. At Serve.gov, organizations can post their needs, and potential volunteers can find local opportunities simply by entering their zip cods. The site includes do-it-yourself toolkits with instructions for finding and filling local needs, and a blog featuring stories of service from people all across the country.
“Volunteering in America 2009” is based on data obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics through a “volunteering supplement” to the Current Population Survey from 2002 to 2008. Volunteers are defined as persons who did unpaid work through or for an organization. The report includes information for all 50 states,
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that each year engages four million Americans of all ages and backgrounds through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America programs. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.
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