An Independent Sector survey indicates the average American household gave $1,075 -- or 2.1 percent of its total income -- to charity in 1998. The survey also reports that 109 million people -- or 56 percent of the population 18 and older -- volunteered a total of 19.9 billion hours during the same year.

The findings come from Giving and Volunteering in the United States, the sixth in a series of national surveys commissioned by the Independent Sector to report on giving and charitable behavior trends. This report focused on giving and volunteering levels by Americans to charities, nonprofits and religious organizations in 1998. The survey, based on interviews with 2,553 adults in May 1999, was conducted by the Gallup Organization.

Independent Sector's key findings for the Volunteering in America section of the report indicated more people are involved in volunteer efforts today than ever before. The numbers showed the volunteer workforce is equal to 9 million full-time employees, at a value of $225 billion.

It also showed that more women volunteered in 1998 than men -- 62 percent, compared with 49 percent. However, men who volunteered gave a little more time than women -- 3.6 hours compared with 3.4 hours.

Ethnic groups and older Americans also volunteered at a high rate. Forty-three percent of seniors, 46 percent of Hispanics and 47 percent of African-Americans volunteered their time last year.

The key findings of the study's Household Giving in America section indicated that more than 70 percent of households reported donating money to charities in 1998, and 81 percent of households gave when asked. About 77 percent were prompted to give by personal requests.

A big factor people consider when giving is their concern about the future, the report states. In 1998, respondents who did not worry about having money in the future contributed a higher than average percentage of household income.

Also, households at either end of the income scale were most generous than the middle class, according to the findings. Those earning less than $10,000 annually gave 2.5 percent of their total incomes. Households that bring in more than $100,000 gave 1.9 percent. The report stipulates that those with incomes under $10,000 per year were often retired persons who gave from their accumulated wealth.

Full text of this news release is currently found at:
http://www.independentsector.org/GandV/default.htm