Young Adults & Volunteerism in Ontario

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Please verify that you are human* This field is required.
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Confidentiality, Privacy & Data Handling

Confidentiality & Privacy: All responses are completely anonymous and reported only in aggregate. Your individual identity will never be linked to your answers.

Data Security & Retention: We are committed to keeping your information safe and secure. Survey data will be stored securely within Ledge Leadership for a period of 3 years, accessible only to authorized project team members, after which it will be permanently deleted.

Questions or Support? If you have any questions about this survey or how your data is managed, please contact nmanglallan@ledgeleadership.com

Eligibility & Incentive: By proceeding, you confirm that you are between 18 and 30 years old and voluntarily agree to participate. Complete the survey for a chance to win $100 and then conduct a interview with us for another $100. A chance at a total of $200 dollars!
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What is your current age?* This field is required.
18 to 21
22 to 25
26 to 30
Under 18
Over 30
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Where do you currently (or have you in the past) look or learn about local volunteer opportunities?* This field is required.(Select all that apply)
Social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook)
Through work/employment
Word of mouth (Friends, family, colleagues)
School career/volunteer centre
Online search engines (Google)
Local Municipality, community
Do not know where to look
Haven't looked for opportunities
Not interested in volunteering at all
Other
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In the past 12 months, have you participated in any formal or informal volunteer work?* This field is required.
Yes, Currently active or recently volunteered
No, Have not volunteered
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What originally motivated you to start volunteering?* This field is required.(Select up to 3)
Belief in a specific cause or mission
Desire to build skills for my resume or career
Social connection and meeting new people
Required for school, work, or a program
Direct influence or invitation from a friend, family, partner, or colleague
Other
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When signing up or attending, who do you prefer to volunteer with?* This field is required.
Alone
With a friend or partner
With family
As part of a corporate, school, or work group
Other
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How do you manage to fit volunteering into your schedule alongside work, school, and financial pressures?* This field is required.
My volunteer role offers highly flexible hours
I specifically choose short-term, low-commitment roles
I treat it as a scheduled priority and sacrifice other leisure time
My employer or school provides dedicated time off for volunteering
Other
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What is the biggest factor that keeps you returning to a volunteer role long-term?* This field is required.
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Which of the following do you value most in an organization you volunteer with?* This field is required.(Select all that apply)
Flexible scheduling that fits around work/school/family commitments
Clear appreciation, recognition, or feedback
Opportunities to build skills or take on leadership roles
Strong social connection with the team or other volunteers
Seeing the direct, tangible impact of my work
Clear and regular communication from leaders
The organization does not overwhelm me to retain or re-engage me
Other
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What would most likely cause you to experience burnout or to stop volunteering?* This field is required.
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Which of the following are primary barriers preventing you from volunteering right now?* This field is required.(Select all that apply)
Lack of free time due to work, school, and family schedules
Unpredictable schedule (shift work, gig work, irregular hours)
Financial stress (need to spend free time earning money)
Mental or emotional fatigue / burnout
Haven't found a cause or organization that genuinely interests me
Application, screening, or onboarding processes are too long and complicated
Don't have anyone to go volunteering with
Had a negative past volunteer experience
Other
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You clicked you had a negative past volunteer experience, are you willing to share details about what went wrong?This is optional but helpful to understand how volunteer organizations can improve
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Which of the following changes or incentives would make you most likely to start volunteering?* This field is required.(Select all that apply)
Flexible micro-volunteering opportunities (bite-sized tasks)
One-time special events (e.g., festivals, single-day shows)
Weekend-only or evening-only options
Tangible perks (e.g., free food, transit passes, event merch/swag)
Skills-based volunteering (applying my professional strengths)
Official reference letters or LinkedIn recommendations
Purposeful networking opportunities
Collaborative project work where I have a genuine voice in the outcome
Virtual or remote options
Finding a cause or organization that is important to me
Other
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If you were signing up to volunteer, how would you prefer to experience it?* This field is required.
Alone
With a friend or partner
With family
As part of a corporate, school, or work group
Other
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Is there anything else you would like to share about the barriers to volunteering?* This field is required.
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If you were to look for a volunteer opportunity tomorrow, what format would appeal to you the most?* This field is required.
Micro-volunteering: Bite-sized tasks completed entirely on my own schedule (e.g., 30 mins to 1 hour)
Skills-Based: Using my professional background (e.g., graphic design, social media management, accounting, coding) for a non-profit
One-Off Events: Single-day community events with zero long-term commitment
Traditional/Recurring: A structured schedule (e.g., every Tuesday evening) to build deep relationships
Virtual/Remote: Project work I can do entirely from my laptop at home
Other
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Which community sectors are you most passionate about directing your energy toward?* This field is required.
Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue (e.g. shelters, fostering, rehabilitation)
Arts, Culture & Community Festivals (e.g. live events, music, local arts, heritage events)
Business, Tech & Local Economic Development (e.g. BIA events, entrepreneurship support, skill workshops)
Diversity, Inclusion & Newcomer Support (e.g. ESL tutoring, settlement assistance, newcomer welcome networks)
Emergency Services, Public Safety & Disaster Relief (e.g. volunteer firefighting, search and rescue, disaster response)
Environmental Conservation & Climate Action (e.g. parks, tree planting, sustainability, trail maintenance)
Faith, Community & Religious Organizations (e.g. churches, places of worship, faith-based outreach)
Food Security, Housing & Harm Reduction (e.g. food banks, community fridges, shelters, crisis relief)
Health, Mental Health & Crisis Support (e.g. peer support, wellness, hospital foundations)
Legal, Advocacy & Access to Justice (e.g. pro bono legal aid, tenant rights, legal clinics, policy advocacy)
Local Service Clubs & Civic Organizations (e.g. Rotary, Lions, Kinettes, Legion, community associations)
Seniors & Intergenerational Support (e.g. elder care, companionship, isolation prevention)
Sports, Recreation & Outdoor Living (e.g. youth sports coaching, community leagues, trail clubs)
Youth Mentorship, Education & Literacy (e.g. tutoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters, youth centers)
Other
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What is the single most important thing organizations need to change about how they recruit or manage young volunteers?* This field is required.
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Which of the following best describes your current primary occupation? * This field is required.
Student
Employed Full-time
Employed Part-time
Gig Economy / Freelance / Contract Worker
Unemployed and seeking work
Unemployed and not seeking work
Other
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Do you identify with any of the following equity-deserving groups?* This field is required.(Select all that apply)
Racialized / Ethnic minorities (e.g., specific cultural, Indigenous, or racial backgrounds)
Persons with disabilities (e.g., visible, non-visible, physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments)
2SLGBTQIA+ / Sexual orientation diversity (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, queer)
Gender-diverse identities
Religious or spiritual minority affiliations
None
Prefer not to say
Other
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The surveying component is now complete.

Please follow the next few questions until the end where it says submit to ensure you get a chance to be entered to win

UP TO $200 DOLLARS!
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Would you like a chance to be entered to win the grand prize draw?* This field is required.Providing contact information will be required to enter the draw
YESNO
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Please provide your contact information
Please enter your full name
Please enter your preferred contact information: email or phone number
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Would you be willing to participate in a brief follow-up interview to elaborate on your responses?* This field is required.(As a thank you for your time, completing a follow-up interview automatically enters you into a separate draw for a $100 Grand Prize.)
YESNO
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Please provide your contact information for the follow-up interview:Duration: 10–20 minutes Format: Phone call or Zoom (at a time convenient for you) Topic: A quick, informal discussion to dive deeper into the perspectives and feedback you shared in this survey.
Please enter your full name
Please enter your preferred contact information: email or phone number
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Please share anything that wasn't covered in the survey that you would like to expand onAny additional comments are welcome!
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Thank you for giving our generation a voice!

Your insights are the foundation of something much bigger. We are currently in the Data Collection & Research phase, gathering real-world input to understand the exact gaps facing young adults and local organizations today.

Where This Is Heading
Your feedback will directly shape an Actionable Volunteer Remodeling Toolkit designed for service clubs, non-profits, charities, and event hosts across Ontario. This toolkit will equip organizations to:

Reframe and modernize their recruitment strategies for today’s climate.

Identify and bridge organizational gaps that hold young adults back from getting involved.

Shift the volunteer paradigm from transactional time-giving to high-value relational growth.
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Purpose
We are building toward a future where volunteering isn't just about serving a mission, but a clear accelerator for your career, a platform for personal growth, and a high-impact way to shape your community.

Want to take it a step further?
We aren't just researching the problem; we are actively building the solutions alongside communities. If you want to help design, test, and lead this initiative, applications are open for the Community Resource Team!
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This study will be focusing on young adults aged 18 - 30, Thank you for taking the time to attempt this study, much appreciated!
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Thank you for your time

I hope you have a wonderful day!
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