Community Engagement in the Commonwealth
In 2023, Serve Virginia and the Virginia Service Foundation launched the Virginia Community Engagement Index (VCEI), a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind study to understand the state of service, volunteerism, and civic action in Virginia, and to identify community priorities.
In 2025, we’re collecting updated data in the new VCEI.
Get the Latest VCEI News in 2025
In 2025, Serve Virginia will be implementing a new round of the VCEI survey to collect updated data about the state of service, volunteerism, and civic action in Virginia.
Partner organizations across the Commonwealth are partnering with Serve Virginia to ensure that diverse voices from your community are heard and that your perspectives are represented in the survey.
VCEI Data Highlights
how we serve
Every Act Matters
67% of Virginians said they’ve volunteered for an organization in the past year. But if you think that’s all service is, then think again. Every day, we use our talent, treasure and voices to improve the lives of those around us and to support organizations and causes we care about. In fact:
- 7 out of 10 Virginians said they’ve informally helped out a neighbor in the past year — and 55% said they do so more than once a month.
- 51% said they’ve donated money or possessions to a non-political community organization.
- 42% said they’ve started or stopped buying products or services based on the values and practices of companies.
To learn more about how people give of their time, talent, and treasure (and what influences their decisions), see VCEI Part 2: The Current State of Engagement.
Why we Serve
Experience Inspires Action
42% of Virginians said they contribute to their communities because they have experience and skills they know can help others. But inspiration comes in many forms:
-
30% said they started contributing because it was an important part of their spirituality or house of worship.
-
28% said they started giving back because they were helped in a time of need.
-
49% said they regularly volunteer because helping others gives them a sense of fulfillment in their lives.
To learn more about what motivates people to get involved, see VCEI Part 3: Insights for Mobilization.
where we serve
Top 4 Places Virginians Volunteer
Those who volunteered within the past year most often did so with youth or educational organizations, food pantries or hunger relief organizations, faith communities, or health-related organizations. In addition, in the past year:
- 62% volunteered with more than one organization.
- 80% said they volunteered at least once a month.
- 79% said their level of volunteering increased or remained the same.
To learn more about where people give of their time, talent, and treasure (and what influences their decisions), see VCEI Part 2: The Current State of Engagement.
civic action
Using Our Voices
68% of Virginians said they voted in a local, state or national election in the past year. But voting isn’t the only way Virginians make their voices heard.
- 34% said they posted or shared content on social media related to a political or social cause.
- 26% said they originated or signed a written or virtual petition.
- 23% said they attended a public meeting to discuss a local issue.
To learn more about the how people use their voice to affect change see VCEI Part 2: The Current State of Engagement.
community priorities
Top 3 Needs Facing Communities
When considering the most pressing needs where they live, Virginians most often identified education, health and well-being and housing.
- 49% of those who chose EDUCATION as a top priority said teacher burnout was the number one issue to address.
- 59% of those who chose HEALTH AND WELL-BEING as a top priority said behavioral and mental health was a top-two area of need.
- 82% of those who chose HOUSING as a top priority said affordability of rental properties was the most pressing issue to address.
To learn more about the challenges our communities face and ways to address those challenges, see VCEI Part 1: Community Needs, Priorities, and Effectiveness of Actions.
Why we Serve
Experience Inspires Action
42% of Virginians said they contribute to their communities because they have experience and skills they know can help others. But inspiration comes in many forms:
-
30% said they started contributing because it was an important part of their spirituality or house of worship.
-
28% said they started giving back because they were helped in a time of need.
-
49% said they regularly volunteer because helping others gives them a sense of fulfillment in their lives.
To learn more about what motivates people to get involved, see VCEI Part 3: Insights for Mobilization.
This material is based upon work supported by AmeriCorps under Grant No 22CABVA001. Opinions or points of view expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of, or a position that is endorsed by, AmeriCorps.
Interactive Regional Data Dashboard
Whether you need evidence to support a proposal for new community-based initiatives in your region or are simply curious to learn more about what civic engagement looks like in your community, take a deeper dive into the Virginia Community Engagement Index (VCEI) data with this interactive regional data dashboard. Click on any of the questions below to learn more and sort responses by region and demographics, or CLICK HERE to get in touch about your specific interests in the data.
VCEI Findings Summary
Primary VCEI insights are represented in this summary, with recommendations for individuals and organizations about using the data.
The full findings of the VCEI can be found below in the following comprehensive reports, which detail data by a variety of demographics and response areas. We are also pleased to share regional reports:
VCEI Applied: Central Region Project
The Central Region Project kicked off in July of 2023 with a convening of nonprofit, business, faith, and education leaders in the greater Richmond area. Jointly funded by the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond, the Bob and Anna Lou Schaberg Foundation, and the Virginia Service Foundation, this core team gathered around the VCEI Central Region Data to establish focus areas and implement strategies to address community needs and advance community engagement in the region.
Using the SERVE Framework, this pilot project utilized seven focus groups that each implemented one of five strategic focus areas which strengthened the volunteer ecosystem in the greater Richmond area. These deliverables include an asset map of organizations in the Commonwealth doing advocacy and policy work around a variety of areas of need, a continuum of resources for volunteer managers, and collection of resources for volunteers to help them be better prepared for serving their community. The work done with the Virginia Community Engagement Index in the Central Region will inform the implementation of the VCEI throughout the Commonwealth.
Let us know if your organization is interested in partnering with us to bring the VCEI data to your community.
What is the SERVE Framework?
The SERVE Framework was distilled from VCEI data by the Central Region core team. The framework outlines five strategic focus areas (defined to the right) and three tactics that can be implemented to make progress towards the overall SERVE Framework goal: Build a stronger service, volunteerism, and civic engagement ecosystem to meet needs in Central Virginia.
Through the framework, five strategic focus areas can be paired with any of the three defined tactics:
1) Communicate strategically.
2) Engage intentionally.
3) Invest resources.
When applied, this tool can help create projects that strengthen volunteerism and service while addressing community needs more effectively—not just in the Central Region, but across the Commonwealth.
Learn what respondents feel are the top challenges facing our communities and the most effective ways to address them.
From “informal” acts of service to organization-based volunteerism and civic action, see how our respondents engage to affect change in their communities.
Learn more about what motivates people to get involved and stay involved, as well as key demographic distinctions that can be used to target messaging and recruitment.
Leveraging findings from all three data reports, this narrative summary pulls it all together with insights on what we can do collectively to build a culture of service, volunteerism, and civic engagement.
