The State of School Volunteerism 2026 — SecureVolunteer by Bchex

In early 2026, Bchex surveyed more than ten thousand school volunteer administrators and school volunteers across the country. This survey was conducted to see how volunteer programs actually work — and where they tend to break down.
A few of the findings complicate some common assumptions in the space of school volunteerism.
The first stat of note was on cost. Ninety-five percent of volunteers told us a thorough background check is worth what it costs. But only sixty percent said they would pay for it themselves. That is a thirty-five point gap — and it exists largely because most programs simply have never asked.
Then there is the supply problem. Schools across the country report not having enough volunteers. The assumption is that interest has dropped. BUT The data suggests otherwise - Sixty-four percent of volunteers told us they want more opportunities than they are currently offered. They are willing. They are simply not hearing about them.
And then there is the finding that surprised us most. Ninety-seven percent of volunteers said they want their schedule, instructions, reminders, and screening status in a single place — not scattered across email, paper, and separate logins.
Agreement at that level across an independently surveyed group is uncommon. It tells us something worth paying attention to.
The full volunteer survey report has six findings — including what predicts volunteer retention, where programs lose participants without realizing it, and the operational gaps that have developed across most school volunteer systems.
You can download the full report at no cost.