Revitalizing the Volunteer Spirit by Empowering Older Adults

When it comes to volunteerism in America, the good news is that it’s alive and well. Recent data from AmeriCorps and the U.S. Census Bureau shows a significant rebound in volunteerism in the last year, with 28.3 percent of Americans engaged in formal volunteering, up from a low of 23.2 percent in 2021. This noteworthy increase, the largest in 20 years, may signal a renewed interest in civic engagement post-pandemic. Also encouraging is the fact that adults over 50 are volunteering at a higher percentage of overall donated time, from 42.1 percent in 2002 to 53.8 percent in 2021.

But challenges remain, including the fact that the average number of hours served per volunteer has declined significantly in recent years. That’s why AARP Foundation is committed to revitalizing volunteerism by harnessing the power of older adults. In the spirit of its founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, who once said, “It is never too late to make a difference in the world,” AARP Foundation fuels its programs and services with the dedicated efforts of more than 29,000 volunteers, the vast majority of whom are older adults. By expanding its volunteerism strategy and leveraging proven programs like Tax-Aide and Experience Corps, the Foundation aims to collaborate with partners in every sector to strengthen the national infrastructure supporting volunteerism among older adults.

This Engage feature invites partners and practitioners to explore the transformative impact of investing in older volunteers in 2025 and beyond.

Available February 28