Young Volunteers Embrace Informal Acts of Service

Nonprofits adapt to changing volunteer habits among Gen Z and Alpha generations

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A new survey by The Allstate Foundation and Gallup found that about 8 in 10 young people aged 12-25 have engaged in some form of community service or volunteering, though their charitable works often happen less formally and more sporadically. Nonprofits are rethinking volunteerism to better appeal to rising generations who express a desire for in-person connections and impact but struggle to find opportunities that fit their routines.

Why it matters

As nonprofits contend with an aging volunteer base whose participation levels are still rebounding from pandemic drop-offs, understanding the evolving service habits of younger generations is crucial. The survey findings suggest that while traditional volunteering remains important, many young people view service more broadly as an ingrained part of daily life, prompting nonprofits to adapt their approaches.

The details

The survey found that among young volunteers, about two-thirds said that helping others or making a difference was a major reason for their volunteering, while around 6 in 10 cited the ability to contribute to their community and roughly half said supporting a cause they were passionate about. Only about 1 in 10 young volunteers said their service activities were all required, with about half saying some were required and 4 in 10 saying none were mandated. The most common form of service for young people involves giving, such as donating or organizing donations for food, clothing or other items. About half of young people said their service experiences allowed them to make choices, assist with planning, or help lead at least sometimes.

  • The Gallup poll was conducted November 17 - December 1, 2025.

The players

The Allstate Foundation

A youth-facing philanthropy that commissioned the survey on young people's community service habits.

Gallup

The polling organization that conducted the survey on behalf of The Allstate Foundation.

Zoë Jenkins

A 22-year-old who oversees recruitment for the youth engagement nonprofit Civics Unplugged.

Greg Weatherford II

The Director of The Allstate Foundation and Social Impact, who leads youth empowerment initiatives.

American Red Cross

One of the country's largest disaster relief organizations, which has seen a 25% increase in Gen Z volunteers from 2024 to 2025.

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What they’re saying

“When we typically think of service it can be very narrow. Of, like, kids picking up litter or engaging in food drives. 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.”

— Zoë Jenkins, Youth engagement nonprofit leader (wbal.com)

“We so applaud the young people that build complex nonprofits that solve complex issues. 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 as they get ready to take their school test or just navigate a new semester.”

— Greg Weatherford II, Director of The Allstate Foundation and Social Impact (wbal.com)

“Young people are perhaps more aware than ever of the power of money.”

— Zoë Jenkins, Youth engagement nonprofit leader (wbal.com)

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

— Zoë Jenkins, Youth engagement nonprofit leader (wbal.com)

“There's lots of folks who want to do traditional volunteering. There's lots of folks who want to do a one-time project. And there's lots of folks who want to maybe do something through a club or school or through their service organization. If we can continue to work hard to put all those people together, that's how we'll build that workforce of the future.”

— Matt Bertram, Vice President of Volunteer Services, American Red Cross (wbal.com)

What’s next

The American Red Cross plans to continue expanding its network of self-run youth clubs, which allow students to manage their engagement with the organization and participate in a variety of activities on their own terms.

The takeaway

This survey highlights the evolving nature of volunteerism among younger generations, who often view service as an everyday act of helping others rather than a formal, structured activity. To engage these rising volunteers, nonprofits must adapt by offering more flexible, youth-led opportunities that allow participants to contribute in ways that fit their lifestyles and interests.