Young Volunteers Embrace Informal Acts of Service, Nonprofits Adapt
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Published on Mar. 9, 2026
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A new survey by The Allstate Foundation and Gallup suggests that young people, particularly those in Generations Z and Alpha, are giving back to their communities through informal, everyday acts of service rather than traditional volunteering. About 8 in 10 of 12- to 25-year-olds have engaged in some form of community service or volunteering, with many citing a desire to help others, contribute to their community, and support causes they’re passionate about. This has prompted some youth-facing nonprofits to rethink how they approach volunteerism, focusing on more accessible, self-directed opportunities that allow young people to serve in ways that fit their routines and interests.
Why it matters
As nonprofits contend with an aging volunteer base and pandemic-related declines in participation, understanding how younger generations want to give back is crucial. The survey findings suggest that traditional notions of volunteering may not resonate with Gen Z and Alpha, prompting nonprofits to adapt their approaches to engage this demographic and harness their desire to make a difference in their communities.
The details
The survey found that about 7 in 10 of 12- to 25-year-olds said they’ve helped someone at least ‘a few times’ in the past week, indicating that young people view service as an ingrained part of daily life rather than a formal extracurricular activity. Only about 1 in 10 young volunteers said their service was entirely required, while about half said some of it was required and 4 in 10 said none of it was mandated. The most common form of service was giving, with about half of respondents saying they donate or organize donations for food, clothing, or other items. Nonprofits are working to provide more youth-led volunteer opportunities that allow young people to make choices, assist with planning, and take on leadership roles.
The Gallup poll was conducted from November 17 to December 1, 2025.
The players
The Allstate Foundation
A philanthropic organization that commissioned the survey on youth volunteering.
Gallup
A research and analytics company that conducted the survey on behalf of The Allstate Foundation.
Zoë Jenkins
A 22-year-old who oversees recruitment for a youth engagement nonprofit called Civics Unplugged.
Greg Weatherford II
The Director of The Allstate Foundation and Social Impact, who leads youth empowerment initiatives.
Alex Quian
The Allstate Foundation Youth Empowerment Program Senior Manager.
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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 (Associated Press)
“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 (Associated Press)
“Young people are perhaps more aware than ever of the power of money.”
— Zoë Jenkins, Youth engagement nonprofit leader (Associated Press)
What’s next
The Allstate Foundation and Gallup plan to continue studying how young people engage in community service and volunteering, with the goal of helping nonprofits adapt their approaches to better meet the needs and preferences of Gen Z and Alpha.
The takeaway
This survey highlights a shift in how younger generations view and participate in community service, moving away from traditional volunteering models towards more informal, everyday acts of giving back. Nonprofits that can adapt to these changing attitudes and provide more accessible, youth-led opportunities are likely to see increased engagement from the next generation of volunteers.
