Is There a Shortage of Volunteers? Real Facts & What You Can Do
Jun, 14 2025
Look around—almost every charity, animal shelter, and food pantry is scrambling for extra hands these days. It’s not just your imagination. National surveys in early 2025 showed volunteer sign-ups dropped to their lowest point in almost a decade. Why? A mix of burnout since the pandemic, busy family lives, tougher financial times, and (let’s be honest) screens soaking up everyone’s spare hours.
Some folks say they’d love to help out but can’t find shifts that match their work schedule or childcare. Others feel overwhelmed by the constant need—they sign up, then feel guilty for missing a week, so they just stop coming altogether. Organizations also report that teens and young adults, a group who used to show up for school credit or social reasons, are harder to recruit than ever.
This shortage isn’t just a headline. It means longer waitlists for shelter animals, food banks stretched thin, and fewer community events. So, if you’re reading this and you’ve noticed fewer signups at your local park cleanup or soup kitchen, you’re not alone.
- Why Fewer People Are Volunteering
- Who Feels the Shortage Most
- What This Means for Communities
- How Organizations Are Adapting
- How You Can Help (And Why It Matters)
Why Fewer People Are Volunteering
Honestly, finding volunteers is hard work these days. If you look at the numbers from VolunteerMatch’s 2024 annual report, requests for volunteers jumped by 23% but the number of signups dropped by 14% compared to just three years ago. That’s not a minor dip—it’s a huge drop that nonprofits feel every week.
A lot of people point to burnout left over from pandemic times. Folks gave all they could during those first years, and now, they’re tired. Add in costs—childcare, gas money, lost wages—volunteering just isn’t as easy to fit in anymore.
- Almost 41% of adults say their jobs have gotten busier since 2021, leaving them with less free time.
- Around 35% of people who used to volunteer say they can’t afford unpaid work now that everyday bills are pricier.
- Nonprofits noticed a big drop in younger volunteers: post-pandemic, high school and college student participation is down 27% due to fewer mandatory school hours and other priorities like part-time jobs.
Some people say online life plays a part, too. Why drag yourself across town on a Saturday when you can zone out on your phone, FaceTime a friend, or doomscroll? Time feels scarce, and volunteering keeps landing at the bottom of the to-do list—even for folks with big hearts.
| Year | Volunteer Signups | Requests for Volunteers |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3.2 million | 5.8 million |
| 2023 | 2.9 million | 6.3 million |
| 2024 | 2.7 million | 7.8 million |
If you’re worried about a volunteer shortage, you’re right on target. It’s happening right now, and the gap is only growing. The good news? Once we know why, it’s easier to start working on some real fixes.
Who Feels the Shortage Most
The volunteer shortage doesn’t hit everyone the same way. Smaller nonprofits and local community centers usually feel the crunch first. These are the places that depend on unpaid help for everything—running afterschool programs, sorting donations, serving meals, or taking care of rescued pets. When volunteers pull back, things get rough fast.
Food banks are getting hit especially hard in 2025. According to Feeding America, nearly 70% of food pantries reported shortages of regular volunteers this spring. That means food gets bagged slower, lines get longer, and some people go home empty-handed. Animal shelters are in the same boat—a lot more stray dogs and cats, but fewer folks to feed, walk, or clean kennels. The need hasn’t dropped, but the hands aren’t there like they used to be.
Here’s a quick snapshot of who’s struggling most:
- Volunteer shortage is toughest for rural groups—where smaller populations mix with longer distances between volunteers and opportunities.
- Disaster relief teams (like Red Cross or local fire departments) sometimes can’t meet demand, especially in busy seasons like wildfire months.
- Hospitals and long-term care homes saw their regular volunteer pools shrink after COVID-19, mostly due to health worries and stricter rules.
This table shows how much volunteer numbers have changed for three big sectors since last year:
| Sector | 2024 Volunteers | 2025 Volunteers | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Banks | 2.1 million | 1.5 million | -29% |
| Animal Shelters | 800,000 | 610,000 | -24% |
| Community Health Centers | 1.4 million | 1.0 million | -28% |
Urban areas aren’t immune, but bigger cities sometimes have more resources and can pay staff or offer perks, like transit passes, to attract help. In smaller towns, sometimes it’s just a few faithful folks keeping everything running—and they’re burning out.
What This Means for Communities
This shortage of volunteers is ripping through neighborhoods in ways most people don’t realize until they need help themselves. For example, a 2024 survey by the Points of Light Foundation showed that nearly 30% of food banks in the U.S. had to cut distribution hours. That meant fewer groceries for families who already count on every can and box in their weekly bag.
You'll also see changes in local parks and schools. The city of Jacksonville, Florida reported dozens of park cleanups delayed last fall because they didn’t have enough people to pick up trash or plant trees. Without volunteer coaches, afterschool sports teams quietly folded or merged—leaving fewer safe spaces for kids after 3 p.m.
Other groups take a direct hit too. Hospitals depend on volunteers to run gift shops and deliver meals. In 2023, more than 15% of nonprofit-run thrift shops reported closing an extra day each week—and that means less money going back into community programs. Older adults feel it, too; in places like rural Kentucky, senior ride services sometimes leave folks waiting hours when there aren’t enough drivers.
This all adds up to a community that just feels less connected. There’s less support for tackling big problems like hunger, homelessness, or natural disasters—just when people need help the most. Knock-on effects hit everyone, not just those getting direct help. When volunteers aren’t there, we all lose the chance to make our towns and cities better.
- If you depend on community services, you might notice longer waits or fewer events.
- If you’re looking to volunteer, the need is higher than ever—and groups are eager for new faces.
- Everybody, whether they realize it or not, benefits from a strong culture of volunteering.
The big takeaway: The volunteer shortage isn’t just about numbers—it’s about real people missing out on support, connection, and opportunities. That ripple reaches everyone.
How Organizations Are Adapting
When volunteer numbers dipped, nonprofit leaders didn’t just sit around hoping things would fix themselves. They tried all kinds of fresh tactics to keep their doors open and help rolling.
Flexible shifts became way more common, with groups offering “drop-in” help or letting folks take on tasks from home. In my town, the animal rescue started up dog-walking shifts you can sign up for with just a few clicks on your phone, no long-term commitment needed. Food banks allow packing food boxes over Zoom or delivering groceries locally on your own schedule. No more all-day events unless you really want them.
Social media isn’t just for photo sharing anymore—it’s the top place organizations find new helpers. According to the 2024 Nonprofit Recruitment Survey, 67% of groups found Facebook and Instagram posts give the biggest return for signups, especially among people under 40. Text reminders, meme-style updates, and quick signup links beat flyers by a mile.
Some groups started paying small stipends or covering travel if volunteers have financial barriers. That’s not super common everywhere, but more partners are chipping in, especially if they see volunteers as part of disaster relief or public health projects.
| Adaptation | Increase (%) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible Scheduling | +54% | One-hour or virtual shifts |
| Social Media Recruitment | +61% | Targeted Instagram & Facebook campaigns |
| Stipends or Perks | +19% | Gas cards, meal vouchers |
| Remote Tasks | +46% | Phone banking, online tutoring |
If you want stats, here’s another thing: Habitat for Humanity said in April 2025 that their remote and weekend volunteering jumped 40% over last year, all thanks to new online sign-up options. Charities know folks want choices, not pressure—they’re making efforts to meet people where they are.
All this change means it’s easier for you—or anyone—to find volunteer gigs that fit your life. Volunteer shortage is real, but the ways to help keep multiplying, no matter how busy you are.
How You Can Help (And Why It Matters)
Jumping in to help doesn't have to mean hours every week or a big commitment. Most nonprofits say even small, one-off volunteer gigs make a huge difference. For example, Feeding America states that each two-hour volunteer shift can help provide a week’s worth of food for a family. So, you don’t need to turn your life upside down to leave a mark.
Wondering where to start? Here’s what actually helps organizations in 2025:
- Volunteer shortage is real, so even an extra set of hands for one shift matters more than ever.
- If your schedule is wild, look for micro-volunteering: thirty-minute online tasks like making calls for a blood drive or writing notes to seniors. Both VolunteerMatch.org and Catchafire.org list these gigs.
- Bring friends or family. Nonprofits say group sign-ups boost motivation and make it more fun, plus you’ll probably stick with it longer if someone you know is going too.
- If you have skills (like cooking, web design, tutoring, or carpentry), tell them! Organizations often struggle to find folks with specific know-how. Your experience can save them money and get projects done faster.
- Can’t commit to regular hours? Many places need help during evenings, weekends, or even for one-off events. Just ask.
Helping out changes more than just the lives of those you serve—it keeps communities running. When neighbors step up, food shelves stay open, animals get adopted, and kids have somewhere safe to go after school. Studies from Points of Light show neighborhoods with strong volunteer networks bounce back faster after crises like hurricanes or layoffs. So yes, your time matters, even if you start small.
If driving across town isn’t doable, virtual volunteering is legit now. You can mentor students by video call, design flyers from your couch, or run fundraisers on social media. Nonprofits are way more flexible about this since 2020, because they honestly have to be.
The bottom line: If you’ve got a spare hour or a skill to share, someone out there really needs it. And the good vibes? Those are just a bonus you can’t put a price on.