Volunteering Behaviors of People of Color in the US Communities: How Community Racial Composition Affects the Type of Organization People of Color Volunteer For

This paper investigates how community racial composition affects types of organizations people of color volunteer for. Specifically, we explore which type of nonprofits (religious and secular, and club-type and collective-type) people of color (Blacks and Hispanics) are likely to volunteer for as the percentages of their racial in-groups in the community increase. Using the current population survey volunteering supplements and county-level census data from 2002 to 2014, we find that community racial composition does matter for people of color’ decisions regarding where they choose to volunteer, particularly for Hispanics. As the percentage of Hispanics in the county increases, Hispanics start to volunteer more for collective-type organizations, moving beyond volunteering for religious organizations. The findings from this study suggest the importance of efforts to engage diverse groups of population in the civic sphere, especially people of color who might have not been welcomed to various forms of community engagement. Such endeavors will contribute to making and sustaining a healthy democracy.