Cancer Research UK put together a helpful Infographic, titled 'A Statistical Overview of the Voluntary Sector,' which examines current volunteering stats, new measures in the industry and the ways in which technology can be utilized for the purposes of social good.
We can infer that our shifting, digital climate has had a positive effect on the volunteering sector, as it has achieved its highest rate since 2007-8. Strangely enough, though more people are donating their time, they are less likely to donate their money. Charitable donations haven't been this low since 2005.
Women aged 35-49 years old are the most likely to volunteer. Female volunteers hedge out their male counterparts by four percent, with 46% of women (compared to 42% of men) engaging in volunteer work.
Volunteer Statistic Infographics
Cancer Research UK's Infographic Measures the Volunteering Sector
Trend Themes
1. Increased Volunteering Rates - The rise in volunteering rates highlights the potential for disruptive innovation in creating more efficient and accessible volunteering platforms.
2. Decline in Charitable Donations - The decrease in charitable donations presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in incentivizing donations and increasing donation efficacy.
3. Empowerment of Women in Volunteering - The prominence of women in volunteering presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating more tailored and inclusive volunteering initiatives.
Industry Implications
1. Nonprofit and Volunteering - Increased rates of volunteering and declining donations present opportunities for disruptive innovation in the nonprofit sector, including creating more efficient and accessible volunteering platforms and incentivizing donations.
2. Technology - Technology's potential to enhance the volunteering experience and innovate within the nonprofit sector presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in creating more effective and inclusive volunteering initiatives.
3. Demographics and Consumer Behavior - The demographics and behaviors of those who volunteer versus those who donate presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in incentivizing donations and creating tailored volunteering initiatives to better serve diverse communities.