Hidden in Plain Sight: Power of Volunteers

By Jan de Rond 

Crisis as a Catalyst for Volunteering

   Volunteering is time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain. It is a powerful force, and an important part of the fabric of society. The media and public opinion devote a great deal of attention, often, almost daily, to government and politics. They have little time or attention for local community life and the changes taking place there. This is understandable: grumbling elephants (large national organizations) attract attention, while working ants (small local organizations doing most of the work) have a lower profile, and their contribution to society is obscured.

Jan de Rond collected data on volunteering and community life during a quarter of a century.
Photo: © Olaf Smit

   Much is known about the market (economy) and the state (government), and much less about community life and volunteerism (social structure). This is unfortunate, as volunteering grows into an important vehicle for shaping and advancing development globally. Volunteering also plays a central role in strengthening the relationship between people and the state.  It promotes better governance, fosters stability and builds more equal and inclusive societies.

“Volunteering promotes better governance, fosters stability and builds more equal and inclusive societies.”

Global perspective

   At the end of the last century, there was widespread fear that volunteering was in decline, just as expectations of it were growing.  Volunteering was seen not only as a way to deliver services to those in need, but also as essential for sustaining citizens’ active participation in democracy.  This was one of the drivers for the first ‘International Volunteer Year’ in 2001. The launch took place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The ‘International Volunteer Year’ led to greater international recognition of volunteers and volunteering.

   Since the turn of the century there have been positive trends in volunteering. According to the Charity Aid Foundation and the World Giving Index there was a global increase in volunteering from 18% in 2010 to 29% in 2023 [1]. What caused this significant increase (+61%) in volunteering?

“What caused this significant increase (+61%) in volunteering?”

   Was it a reaction to the social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic? Was it a growing need for people to want meaningful lives, or an overall growing urge for social contact and personal influence, or the global introduction of individual digital communication?

Graph 1 Volunteering per continent (weighed by population and age [2])

Explanation: The y-axis shows the percentages of volunteering; the x-axis shows the continents in which the survey was conducted; the index denotes the years.
Data source: World Giving Index and population pyramids (number and age data)

   In the 2010s, global volunteering remained stable. Immediately at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 a significant increase in volunteering started. The differences between continents are striking. According to the United Nations State of the World’s Volunteerism Report 2022 volunteer groups in Asia and Africa, the Eastern and Southern parts of the globe, are forging closer partnerships with state authorities to address a wide range of urgent development challenges, from climate change to ecosystem and biodiversity loss, to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic [3]. In Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, a sharp decline in volunteering was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, while at the same time in Asia and Africa the numbers increased. Worldwide volunteering flourished, rising from 18% in 2010 to 29% in 2023.

“Worldwide volunteering flourished, rising from 18% in 2010 to 29% in 2023.”

   After a century of globalization (20th century), we are living in the 21st century, the century of localization enabled by personal mass communication tools and an increased educational level of the population.

   The babyboom generation, born after the Second World War, has higher levels of education than previous generations. It is also the wealthiest generation that has ever lived. As a consequence the organizational capacity increased, volunteering and local community life flourished.

   While there is no shortage of volunteers, there is increased competition for volunteers. Volunteers are able to behave as ‘sole agents’ and make choices about which ‘jobs’ they want to work on.

“There is no longer a shortage of volunteers. Instead we have an increased competition for volunteers on our hands.”

European perspective

   Twenty five years after the first ‘International Volunteer Year’ in 2001 a second wave has started. There is a mixed picture of quantitative trends in volunteering and (local) community life in Europe following the COVID-19 pandemic. In Northern and Eastern Europe, volunteer numbers dropped; in Western Europe volunteer numbers stabilized; and in Southern Europe volunteering increased.

Graph 2 Volunteering in Europe (weighed by population and age)

Explanation: The y-axis shows the percentages of volunteering; the x-axis shows the area in Europe in which the survey was conducted; the index illustrates the years.
Data source: World Giving Index and population pyramids (number and age data)

   The decline in volunteering in Western Europe at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic was significant compared to other European regions. Before the pandemic, volunteering in Northern and Western Europe showed a significant positive difference compared with global participation. By 2023 the gap closed.

Dutch perspective [4]

   In Europe, the Netherlands has the highest percentage of volunteers, followed by Norway, Luxembourg and France. On average, Northern Europe and the Netherlands score above the European percentage (21-22%).

Graph 3 Volunteering Western Europe (weighed by population and age)

Explanation: The y-axis shows the percentages of volunteering; the x-axis shows the countries in which the survey was conducted; the index illustrates the years.
Data source: World Giving Index and population pyramids (number and age data)

   In the Netherlands, the percentage dropped sharply at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic from 33% in 2015 to 21% in 2020 [5]. Neighboring countries, Germany and Belgium, showed a similar pattern. In 2023, volunteering in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria has not recovered from the social shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Powerful force

   Volunteering is a powerful force and an vital part of society. Globally it is an increasingly important way to drive and shape community development. Volunteering also plays a central role in strengthening relationships between people and the state.   It supports good governance, helps build more equal and inclusive societies, and fosters societal stability. After centuries of diplomacy between states to solve problems and prevent wars, tension and conflict between countries is intensifying at the cost of ordinary people.

   Bilateral diplomacy started in 1659 between Spain and France at the Pheasant Island [6]. Multilateral diplomacy started in 1878 at the Congress of Berlin [7]. In 1945, multilateral diplomacy was institutionalized by The United Nations [8].

   The 1972 report ‘The Limits of Growth’ noted that the natural resources of our planet are diminishing. In January 2026, scientists set the Doomsday Clock [9] time at an alarming 85 seconds to midnight, the nearest the Clock has ever been to midnight in its history [10]. The Doomsday Clock is a metaphor for how near humanity is to self-destruction due to conflict and climate change, represented by the time 12 pm midnight.  

   If states and politicians are incapable of solving these issues, do ordinary people who are willing to give their time for the common good (volunteers) have to step in and make the difference?

   After 365+ years of state diplomacy, bilateral and multilateral, volunteers are mobilizing. Their global numbers are growing from 18% in 2009 to 29% in 2023. Recently, for the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil, a Global Citizens’ Assembly was installed [11].

   The Global Citizens’ Assembly enables volunteers to shape policies on global challenges. It’s a scalable, deliberative process where anyone on earth can take part in shaping informed decisions on climate, technology, and other urgent issues. Understandably, some states’ leaders are apprehensive about the power of volunteering.

“Understandably, some states’ leaders are apprehensive about the power of volunteering.”

   Despite all kinds of socioeconomic changes following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, global interest in volunteering has flourished, as reported in the World Giving Index.

Table 1 Number of volunteers per region and worldwide