A new poll finds young volunteers embrace informal, everyday acts of service. So do some nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations across the United States are witnessing a transformation in how younger generations approach volunteering and community service, with new patterns emerging that differ from traditional models of engagement.

According to a comprehensive survey conducted by The Allstate Foundation and Gallup, approximately 80 percent of Americans aged 12 to 25 have participated in some form of community service or volunteering. Their motivations reveal a generation driven by purpose – about two-thirds cited “helping others or making a difference” as a major reason for volunteering, while roughly 60 percent valued the ability to contribute to their community.

“When we typically think of service it can be very narrow. Of, like, kids picking up litter or engaging in food drives,” said Zoë Jenkins, 22, who oversees recruitment for youth engagement nonprofit Civics Unplugged. “That all definitely counts as service. But I think for me, how I think about it is just people helping other people. And that’s, I think, a really broad bucket.”

This broader definition of service has prompted youth-focused philanthropic organizations to reconsider their approach to volunteerism. The survey identified key barriers preventing youth engagement – about half of non-volunteers cited difficulty finding opportunities and time constraints as primary obstacles.

Generation Z (born approximately 1997-2012) and Generation Alpha (roughly 2012-2024) appear to be forging their own paths to community service outside traditional nonprofit structures. Approximately 70 percent of respondents aged 12-25 reported helping someone with a task “a few times” in the previous week, suggesting they view service as an integrated part of daily life rather than a separate activity.

The survey also revealed that compulsory service represents only a small portion of youth volunteerism. Just 10 percent reported that all their service activities were required by school or clubs, while about half said some activities were mandated, and 40 percent engaged entirely voluntarily.

Greg Weatherford II, Director of The Allstate Foundation and Social Impact, emphasized that the organization doesn’t prioritize one type of service over another. “We so applaud the young people that build complex nonprofits that solve complex issues,” he said. “Equally important is the young person that’s taking time to write a letter to a classmate who may just be needing to have some extra encouragement.”

Donation-based activities emerged as the most common form of youth service, with approximately half of respondents saying they donate or organize collections of food, clothing, or other items. This accessibility factor is significant, according to Alex Quian, Senior Manager of The Allstate Foundation Youth Empowerment Program.

“Young people are perhaps more aware than ever of the power of money,” Jenkins explained, noting the generation’s growing recognition of financial influence in supporting causes.

The Allstate Foundation is now focusing resources on developing more youth-led volunteer opportunities, responding to survey findings that only about half of young people’s service experiences allowed them to make choices, assist with planning, or help lead “sometimes.”

Jenkins pointed out that nonprofits often restrict younger volunteers to basic activities like highway cleanups and food drives. She advocates for developmentally appropriate opportunities that recognize the different capabilities of various age groups, suggesting storytelling as one potential avenue for older Gen Z volunteers.

“It’s not that young people don’t care,” Jenkins emphasized. “We’re not necessarily providing the right opportunities that actually let young people feel like they’re showing up as their full selves.”

The American Red Cross represents a successful adaptation to these changing patterns. The organization reported a 25 percent increase in Gen Z volunteers between 2024 and 2025, making it their fastest growing demographic. Matt Bertram, vice president of volunteer services, attributes this growth to the organization’s network of over 1,400 self-managed youth clubs, primarily based in high schools.

These clubs operate with significant autonomy, allowing students to determine their level of engagement with the Red Cross mission. Activities range from community education and blood drives to international humanitarian campaigns and fundraising initiatives for specific causes like measles and rubella.

The Red Cross has also modernized its communication approach, using email and text messaging channels preferred by younger volunteers. They’ve simplified the application process for underage participants by enabling direct parental consent requests during signup.

Bertram acknowledged that volunteer motivations evolve over time, particularly as individuals transition through different life stages. By developing short-term and project-based service opportunities alongside traditional volunteering models, the organization aims to accommodate diverse preferences and capacities.

“There’s lots of folks who want to do traditional volunteering. There’s lots of folks who want to do a one-time project,” Bertram noted. “If we can continue to work hard to put all those people together, that’s how we’ll build that workforce of the future.”

The Gallup poll surveyed 3,013 Americans aged 12-25 between November 17 and December 1, 2025, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.