Using data from a national survey, this article analyzes the relationship
between volunteering and attitudes regarding personal goals, the role and
responsibility of government, the charitable responsibility of individuals,
and confidence in charitable and noncharitable institutions. It focuses on
the differences between volunteers and nonvolunteers and between vol
unteers to organizations operating under three different auspices (public,
for-profit, and nonprofit) and in eleven different types of volunteer activ
ities. The findings reveal that, when controlling for sociodemographic
characteristics and social roles, statistically significant differences in per
sonal goals and attitudes exist between volunteers and nonvolunteers, as
well as among volunteers found in the three sectors and in various types
of activities.
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