Texans care about each other.Through their volunteer participation in state agencies, children and seniors are safe and cared for, parks are clean and inviting, historic sites are preserved, our cultural heritage is celebrated, and needed services are rendered. Investing in Volunteerism is an analysis of the volunteer service and community engagement efforts of eighteen selected state agencies and organizations. Funded in part by a grant received by the Texas Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service from the Corporation for National and Community Service, this study was undertaken by the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, a component of the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

• Volunteer participation is big business in Texas State Government agencies. Significantly more than 200,000 Texans serve this state through structured service opportunities providing contributions in time, in-kind contributions, and donations valued in excess of $35 million.

• Four organizational models facilitate the delivery of volunteer service.Centralized models appear to be most effective in leveraging broad large-scale citizen participation initiatives.These models require dedicated staff at the central office and regional levels supporting volunteerism.Decentralized models operate on a project or program specific level.Generally focused on outcome or project goals, these relatively smaller efforts address specific needs.Regional outreach is variable.Community-based models of service rely heavily on the work of independent nonprofit organizations formed to assist the state in meeting significant social problems.Hybrid models represent a combination of these systems.

• More than 100 different service opportunities and volunteer projects were identified by the participating agencies.Key challenges to greater volunteer involvement include staff availability to supervise and support volunteers and staff understanding of the roles and functions volunteers can perform.

• People of all ages serve as volunteers. Fewer opportunities exist for youth service. Senior adults were frequently lauded for their volunteer activities.

• Volunteers are not free. They do however significantly expand the reach of state government, leverage scarce financial resources, and actively engage citizens in the work of a democracy.Their involvement helps generate networks of trust and reciprocity, building caring communities.