Survey finds most Nevadans don’t volunteer for nonprofits

Friday, June 11, 2004 | 11:07 a.m.

A survey released June 1 by a top volunteer advocacy group found Nevadans are only half as likely as their neighbors in Utah to volunteer at the state's nonprofit agencies.

The study, commissioned by the Washington, D.C.-based Points of Light Foundation, found that 22 percent of Nevadans -- the lowest in the nation -- volunteer on a regular basis. The numbers are based on a monthly survey of about 60,000 households, according to a statement released by the agency.

These numbers stand in stark contrast to Utah, which boasts the nation's highest rate of volunteerism, 46.8 percent.

The foundation estimates the national average of volunteers over 16 years old at 27.4 percent.

Points of Light researchers found states with more volunteer centers geared at pairing residents with nonprofits that fit their interests are more likely to see jumps in the number of people who dedicate their time, according to the study.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Labor, estimates that about 3 million people nationwide volunteer each year. The agency found that unpaid volunteers contribute about $2.7 billion to the nation's economy.

The study was conducted using statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor with researchers from Purdue University in Indiana.