Volunteering: A Family Affair

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/savannahcorps/

In their 2011 Heart of the Donor study, Russ Reid shared study results that indicate a strong relationship between volunteering by parents and volunteering by their children once they reach adulthood. 

Among current adults whose parents frequently volunteered when they were growing up, 49 percent had volunteered with a nonprofit in the past year. A total of 31 percent of adults whose parents were occasional volunteers are currently actively working with nonprofits. Among adults who never observed volunteering by their parents, only 20 percent are active with nonprofits. 

These results further reinforce the stunning impact of the immediate family for children across their lifetimes. I wonder whether collective family volunteering growing might make these results even higher for today's adults?

At one area volunteer fire department, a family of four signs up every year for shifts at the local grocery store for the MDA Fill the Boot campaign. The children have often helped present the results check during the local Labor Day Telethon. Those great kids and their model parents often talk excitedly about this experience throughout the year. Those kids are going to make amazing adult volunteers. 

Do you have a favorite memory from growing up of a family volunteer project? 

Does your family currently volunteer together?

If you have children and currently volunteer, what do you share with your kids about your commitment?

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, what is your nonprofit doing to encourage family volunteering?