In the years following September 11, 2001 Americans made efforts to redefine the date as a national service and charitable giving. The national volunteer rate peaked at 28.8% in 2003 and remained there for three straight years. That number has been declining steadily hitting it's lowest point at 24.9 in 2015.
Robert Grimm, director of the Do Good Institute explains the reasons for the decline:
- Worsening socioeconomic factors make people less likely to be volunteers
- People who don't own homes feel less tied to their communities.
- Long commutes mean people have less time to spend on civic obligations.
Source: City Lab