NOTE: To download a copy of the report on giving and volunteering, scroll to the bottom of this page.

January 22, 2008

contact: Fred Silverman (415.464.2527)

Novato, CA—A new survey on giving and volunteering in Marin County, a follow-up to one conducted seven years ago, shows an across-the-board surge in volunteering and a strong desire by new, young residents to become involved in supporting local nonprofits.

The survey, commissioned by the Marin Community Foundation, also documented that 92% of Marin residents made a contribution to or volunteered with a charitable organization in 2007, up from 87% in 2000.

The high increases in volunteering were seen among all age groups and among both newer and longer-term residents. Overall, 65% of adults volunteered in 2007, up from 52% in 2000. The largest increase was among the County’s newest residents (under five years): In 2007, 60% of this group volunteered, compared to 43% of residents who were the newest residents in 2000. 

Regarding the interest shown by younger residents to become more engaged, MCF President Thomas Peters said, “These are very positive and frankly somewhat unexpected, results.” He explained that one of the major findings from the 2000 survey indicated that while overall levels of giving were high at that time, there was concern that younger, newer residents were not as engaged in the community as older, longer-term residents. “Since the County had already benefited enormously from the involvement of those long-term residents,” added Peters, “there was a question about who would continue the strong tradition of community involvement in Marin. The current trends are cause for great optimism.”

The new survey indicates two trends suggesting the leveling out of these generational differences: First, the survey shows that the longer people live here, the more involved they become, both as volunteers and as financial supporters. “In fact,” Peters explained, “it took less time for those who were the newer, younger residents of 2000 to become actively involved than we anticipated. This engagement is reflected by their financial support for local nonprofits as well as by giving and volunteering at higher than expected levels.”

Second, the survey showed that while today’s youngest, newest adult residents are giving at somewhat lower levels than their counterparts of seven years ago, they are already volunteering at a high rate—and say that volunteering with an organization means they are more likely to support it financially.

They also have a strong desire to know more about local nonprofits, meet with nonprofit leaders, make greater use of the Internet to learn about and support local nonprofits, and connect with others who want to make a difference.

“There is clearly a tremendous amount of untapped potential within this group,” said Peters, “and this is enormously encouraging. Hopefully, this will stimulate a variety of efforts to reach out and engage them in addressing community issues. They’re obviously ready.”

Other highlights of the report, called “Solid Growth, Untapped Potential,” are:

• 86% of Marin households made a charitable contribution in the past year, an increase from 80% in 2000. The national average, according to an estimate by the Giving USA Foundation, is about 70%.

• Older, more established residents continue to give and volunteer at high levels.

• In contrast to the 2000 findings, residents now say that volunteering at an organization is a major reason for making a financial contribution. This reason is tied with civic duty as the second strongest influence on giving, with concern about a particular issue still the strongest influence by a wide margin.

• In the past year, over one-third of Marin households supported climate change or global warming—by making contributions, volunteering, or both.

• Slightly more money is being contributed to Marin organizations now compared to seven years ago—56% vs. 52%.

• Some findings in the 2007 survey were similar to those reported in 2000: For example, the percent of annual household income going to charity is about the same—2.3% in 2007 (the national average was 2.0% in 2006, the most recent year for which this data is available) and 2.2% in 2000 (when the national average was 2.1%).

• Also, the issues that people support have not changed significantly. Human service organizations and education still top the list (58% of households supported both of these issues), followed by environmental organizations, religious organizations, children’s organizations (not including schools), political organizations, and those related to the arts—following the same order as seven years ago.

• Like seven years ago, the top two factors people say would motivate them to give more are knowing that charities would use the money effectively and having more confidence that those organizations are making their community a better place to live.

• Residents continue to cite a disparity between some of their aspirations for the County and how they feel those aspirations are being met. Generally, they have high aspirations—which are being met—in the areas of open space protection, education, the arts, and giving and volunteering. However, there is less satisfaction in other areas where they have high aspirations; these include housing for people with various incomes; health care; and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity.

“We are excited about seeing such growth in the County’s generosity,” said Peters. “There is a lot to feel good about and proud of in this report. And this includes knowing there is such great potential to engage a new generation in the issues facing Marin. We, along with many organizations in the County—public, private, and nonprofit—now have a lot of information to help make this happen.”

The complete report can be downloaded from the Marin Community Foundation’s website, at marincf.org/solidgrowth. Or, to request that a copy be mailed, call 415.464.2500.

The survey was conducted by Collaborative Economics and the Field Research Corporation. 

To download a copy of the report, click on the icon below. This is a PDF document that requires Adobe Reader.