Gen Z Volunteers: Understanding What Drives the Next Generation
· 7 min read
Last month, I sat down with a volunteer coordinator who was frustrated. "I can't figure out these younger volunteers," she told me. "They seem interested, they sign up, but then getting them to actually show up consistently feels impossible." It's a conversation I've had dozens of times—and I think we've been approaching it all wrong.
TL;DR
- Gen Z volunteers more than other generations (63%), but they engage differently—we need to adapt our approach
- The 3 C's motivate Gen Z: Community impact (93%), Connections to combat loneliness (88%), and Career skill-building (51%)
- Flexibility is essential: 46% cite it as crucial—offer varied shift lengths, last-minute opportunities, and remote options
- Mobile-first technology is table stakes: Paper sign-ups and desktop-only forms push Gen Z toward other opportunities
- 76% want to help but 32% don't know where to start—make your volunteer path crystal clear
