NCoC: Giving and Volunteering

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Giving and Volunteering

Service to community and to others are critical ways individuals give back to community. Acts of service including formal volunteering through and organization, and less formal ways of helping others, such as working with neighbors to fix a community problem. Another way many people choose to give back is through charitable giving and philanthropy.

NCoC believes to address community issues and challenges in any area, research must be collected, discussion must occur, and solutions must be proposed. Here, you can see research, discussion, and solutions associated with giving and volunteering. This is meant to help explain and animate that focus area, as well as facilitate the process of moving from information to action within it.

Giving & Volunteering Issues:Research | Discussions | Solutions

Giving & Volunteering Research

Title	Date	Type
United We Serve“It's been said that our true calling in life is where our heart's greatest gladness meets the world's deepest need,” said First Lady Michelle Obama as she launched the White House’s ...	June 23, 2009	discussion
There’s No Stimulus Like Serviceby John Bridgeland and Alan Khazei“Democrats in Washington say the nation needs more jobs. Republicans say the economic stimulus isn’t working fast enough.” In a Politico op-ed, NCoC advisors John Bridgeland and Alan ...	July 17, 2009	op-ed
CNCS Releases “Volunteering in America” reportFrom the passage of the Serve America Act and the launch of United We Serve to the recent National Conference in San Francisco, it has been an exciting few months for service and volunteering. Keeping ...	July 28, 2009	discussion
How is the Recession Affecting Nonprofit Civic Engagement?by Lester Salamon and Stephanie GellerThe recession may actually be prompting nonprofit organizations to boost their involvement in advocacy and civic engagement.	August 12, 2009	expert commentary
The Opportunity Cost of Civic EngagementThe cost of community involvement during a recessionRecent studies have shown interesting and varied levels of correlation between community involvement around the United States and its direct connection to the economy. UCLA sociology professor Jennie Brand ...	August 12, 2009	discussion
Executive SummaryAmerica’s Civic Health Index for 2009 shows that the economic recession is causing a civic depression. The national survey finds that 72% of Americans say they cut back on the time they spent volunteering, ...	August 27, 2009	civic health index
Lower-Income People Serve in More Personal WaysThe Economic Downturn is Reshaping Civic EngagementAmong non-volunteers, respondents in the lower income brackets were more likely to have given food, money, or shelter to those who were in need. When combining all forms of service, the civic gap is much ...	August 27, 2009	civic health index
Americans are Turning Inward and Cutting Back Civic Engagement in Tough Economic TimesThe Economic Downturn is Reshaping Civic Engagement66% said that people are responding to the current economic downturn by looking out for themselves, while only 19% said people around them are responding to the recession by helping each other more.	August 27, 2009	civic health index
Religiosity and Connection to Others Protect Against Service RecessionWho Engages?Strong connections to others and to the community protect against a decrease in civic engagement during an economic recession.	August 27, 2009	civic health index
Civic Health Index Finds America in the Midst of Civic ForeclosureStudy Finds that God, Friends and Facebook are Important Factors for Fostering Civic Engagement	August 27, 2009	press release

Giving & Volunteering Discussions and Commentary

Title	Date	Type
’Tis The Season For Solicitationsby Karlo MarceloTechnology and online engagement provide easy access and low cost ways for nonprofits to solicit donations. Mobile apps, celebrity campaigns, and bell ringers have all tried to capitalize on technology ...	December 20, 2010	discussion
All Volunteer ForceCivic Lives of Our Newest Generation of Veterans“All Volunteer Force: From Military to Civilian Service,” a report written by Civic Enterprises, and underwritten by Target and the Case Foundation, finds that the overwhelming majority of ...	November 11, 2009	publication
AmeriCorps Week events celebrate national serviceThe 2010 AmeriCorps Week is being celebrated May 8-15, to spotlight the vital work done by AmeriCorps members in communities since the national service program began 16 years ago. Since 1994, there are ...	May 6, 2010	discussion
Because You Do the Things You DoA guest blog post by Diana Aviv, President and CEO of Independent SectorWhat is the economic value of an hour of volunteer time? While those who volunteer are, by definition, not in it for the money, attaching a monetary worth to the effort helps us put in perspective the ...	April 2, 2013
Can Service Save the Economy?It’s no secret that our economy is in deep trouble and that various options for its rescue and resuscitation have been a topic of strenuous debate for months. Banks and the auto industry have received ...	January 28, 2009	discussion
CECP Releases Giving in Numbers: 2012 EditionCECP’s Director Margaret Coady answers our questions on their latest reportThe Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) is an international forum of business CEOs and chairpersons focused exclusively on corporate philanthropy. We interviewed CECP Director Margaret ...	November 13, 2012
Citizenship for the 21st Centuryby Stanley Litow, IBMThe ideals of citizenship and volunteerism were deeply embedded in America’s founding documents, and recent legislation, public initiatives, and corporate investment have given these values renewed ...	October 6, 2010	discussion
CNCS Releases “Volunteering in America” reportFrom the passage of the Serve America Act and the launch of United We Serve to the recent National Conference in San Francisco, it has been an exciting few months for service and volunteering. Keeping ...	July 28, 2009	discussion
Congress Passes Historic Civic Engagement LegislationOn March 31, Congress passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, a legislative initiative to expand and improve service opportunities for all Americans, harness social innovation toward public good, ...	April 1, 2009	discussion
Discussion: Can Engagement Strengthen the Economy?6 Hypotheses on the Link Between Civic Health and UnemploymentResearch shows a connection between civic health and a community’s ability to weather a recession. We’ve posited 6 hypotheses about why this connection exists, and invite you to join in a discussion.	February 16, 2012	discussion

Giving & Volunteering Solutions

Title	Date	Type
All Volunteer ForceCivic Lives of Our Newest Generation of Veterans“All Volunteer Force: From Military to Civilian Service,” a report written by Civic Enterprises, and underwritten by Target and the Case Foundation, finds that the overwhelming majority of ...	November 11, 2009	publication
Funding and Fostering Local DemocracyWhat Philanthropy Should Know about the Emerging Field of Deliberation and Democratic GovernanceAs the philanthropic community grapples with the question of how to support innovative and effective forms of democratic governance, PACE (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement) has released a guide ...	May 19, 2009	publication
New “Service as a Strategy” BlueprintsService as a Strategy is designed to help mayors identify and implement high-impact service strategies that address pressing local challenges. NCoC supports the initiative and is excited to spread ...	August 26, 2011	publication

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