National Movement to Double Volunteering by 2035 Aims to Change Culture and Attitudes Around Volunteering Long-Term

This week Points of Light, the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to volunteering, announced a bold commitment to by 2035, double the rate of volunteering across the U.S. and internationally, through their global programs. Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, Points of Light, made the announcement from the main stage of the 2025 Points of Light Conference.

This call-to-action centers around the urgent need for individuals to feel more connected , for communities and nonprofits to have the capacity and human capital to address pressing needs, and at scale, for society to be improved by utilizing volunteering as a tool to decrease division and increase our trust in each other and institutions.

“Our north star is connecting everyone to meaning and purpose through volunteering and civic engagement,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, Points of Light, during her keynote at the 2025 Points of Light Conference. “Volunteer mobilizing organizations are the center of communities – they bring people together and create a culture of service, trust and support.”

The national volunteer rate has remained stagnant at around 28-30% for years and fell to just 23% during the COVID-19 pandemic — the lowest in nearly three decades. Although numbers have begun to recover, they have not yet reached pre-pandemic levels. Even at the pre-pandemic rate, the needs of communities were not being met, with 50% of open volunteer positions going unfilled. The new goal set by Points of Light is not just a big number, it’s about investing in and creating a culture of service that brings quality volunteer engagement that strengthens democracy and builds social cohesion.

“73% of Americans say polarization is negatively affecting our country. Volunteering is a catalyst for societal change,” continued Sirangelo. “The more individuals realize their purpose through volunteering, the more it transforms our society for the better.”

In addition to the positive impact for individuals and our society, investing in nonprofits to continue delivering essential services and deepen their impact is critical. These organizations need a stronger volunteer infrastructure, greater public engagement, and sustained support.

Points of Light’s recent report, From Nice to Necessary: Unleashing the Impact of Volunteering Through Transformative Investment, found that the investment in volunteer infrastructure is lacking.

In addition to research that supports investments, Points of Light is building a sustainable future for volunteering, including building a coalition, investing in nonprofit capacity and bolstering research and data on the impact of volunteering. This work will ensure that as volunteering grows, so too does the ability of nonprofits to harness that energy in meaningful, sustainable ways.

Nonprofits and volunteer mobilizing organizations are already responding to increasing local challenges — from hunger and housing to education and mental health — and doing so with limited resources. Their deep community roots and firsthand understanding of local needs position them uniquely to mobilize volunteers effectively and equitably.

“We cannot build a stronger, more connected society without investing in the capacity of the nonprofits doing the work,” said Sirangelo. “They are not just service providers — they are bridge builders and trust makers, and their success is our collective success.”

This week, Points of Light held a second convening of national nonprofit leaders to inform and shape the next phases of this strategy.

About Points of Light

Points of Light is a nonpartisan, global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips, and mobilizes millions of people to create positive change through volunteering and civic engagement. Through work with nonprofits, companies and social impact leaders, the organization galvanizes volunteers to meet critical needs in communities. As the world’s largest organization dedicated to increasing volunteer service, Points of Light engages more than 3.8 million volunteers across 32 countries. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.