The Irish Volunteering Index

Ireland's first nationally representative study of volunteering and civic engagement — who volunteers, why they do it, and what gets in the way.

What we'll explore

The big questions about volunteering in Ireland

We're committed to understanding the full picture of volunteering in Ireland. Not just who does it, but why, and who we're missing. This study will give the sector the evidence it needs to advocate, adapt and grow.

1. Who volunteers — A nationally representative portrait of Ireland's volunteers — and those who don't. 
2. Motivations and barriers — What draws people in, what holds them back, and what would change their minds. 
3.  Retention and drop-out — Why volunteers stay, why they leave, and how organisations can do better. 
4. Untapped potential — Time, skills and willingness sitting on the sidelines — and how to reach it. 
5. Wellbeing and impact — The societal and personal benefits of volunteering, backed by data.

Who it's for

Built for everyone who cares about volunteering

Whether you run a small community group or shape national policy, the Irish Volunteering Index gives you the data to make your case and strengthen your work.

• Volunteer involving organisations. Understand how your organisation compares nationally and what your volunteers really need.
• Local authorities. See how civic engagement looks in your area and benchmark against regional and national data.
• Sector advocates. Strengthen your media presence, communications strategy and funding applications with real data.

What you get

What partner organisations receive

Partnering with us is free. In return, you commit to promoting the survey to your network and you get access to data that would otherwise cost a lot more to collect on your own.

The full national report with findings and conclusions. A ready-to-use communications kit for different channels. Your organisation's own results in an accessible format. A tailored visual report if 200+ of your members participate. Benchmarking against similar organisations and regions. Strong evidence for advocacy, funding bids and media work.

How it works

Simple to join, powerful in impact

The Irish Volunteering Index combines a nationally representative survey with broad sector participation. You just need to register and spread the word within your network.

1. 1. Register your organisation. Sign up to participate. It's free for volunteer involving organisations and local authorities. We'll keep you posted as the project develops.
   2. Attend the online kick-off webinar 15th of June. Join a short webinar where we walk you through the survey, the timeline, and your communication role. We'll give you everything you need.
   3. Share with your network. Distribute the survey through your channels using our ready-to-use communication templates. The more people participate, the richer the data.
   4. Receive your results. Get the national report, your organisation's findings, and if 200+ of your volunteers took part, a full tailored visual report for your use.