How are we doing?
Civic engagement received a mixed result rating. Residents’ giving and volunteering have remained consistent in the past few years, though residents face economic pressures that prevent them from donating as much as they would like. Nonprofits continue to be highly trusted by the public. However, the increasing threats from the public to local elected officials and nonprofit leaders may be eroding the safety of civic participation.
Rating: Mixed Results
San Diegans still volunteer and donate, but perhaps less than before. Civic incivility remains a concern.
Issues of concern in the region
Every quarter, the Nonprofit Institute polls San Diego residents to understand community concerns on prevailing issues. These issues cover economic, social, and environmental topics, and residents rank their level of concern on a six-point scale, from alarmed (highest) to unworthy of concern (lowest).
The latest polling showed that concern for quality of life issues increased all-around compared to last year, but some issues garnered more acute concern in light of recent events. By ranking issues by the percentage of “alarmed” residents, homelessness (52%), affordable housing (51%), and hunger and poverty (40%) landed as the top three issues in both 2024 and 2025, highlighting the ongoing housing and cost of living challenges in the region. Wildfires (39%) and beach water quality (34%) jumped from 8th and 7th place to 4th and 5th place respectively. The devastating Palisades Fire, attention on homeowner insurance, and the Tijuana River pollution crisis, likely brought these issues to the forefront for San Diegans.
While it appears that other issues ranked lower, the level of concern residents expressed for these issues were either the same or slightly higher than in 2024. San Diego County residents are living in a time of dynamic change, where economic pressures and environmental challenges are mounting and often interconnected.
Confidence in local institutions
Trust in San Diego’s institutions is essential to maintaining a high level of community engagement. A strong relationship between the nonprofit sector and the public correlates with increased volunteering and giving by the public. Based on research on San Diego’s nonprofit sector, individuals who express confidence in nonprofits are two times more likely to donate and three times more likely to volunteer.
The quarterly poll also asks residents about their level of confidence in San Diego institutions. Over the years, San Diegans continually express greater confidence in local nonprofits than in local businesses or government. In 2025, 85% of San Diego residents reported confidence in nonprofits, compared to 68% in businesses and 51% in local government.
Local institutions likely enjoy greater confidence from residents than larger or federal institutions. National research by Gallup documents a long-term decline in American’s confidence in major U.S. institutions, while the confidence in small businesses, the military, and science have remained high. Although nonprofits are not examined as a distinct category, against a broader backdrop of institutional skepticism, this pattern suggests that residents have a positive impression of nonprofits, particularly at the local level.
Volunteering and giving
San Diego volunteers provide essential labor across nonprofit sectors including education, recreation, social services, and environmental conservation, making an impact on various aspects of our lives. According to the Nonprofit Institute’s 2025 quarterly survey, 67% of San Diegans expressed they believe it is in their power to improve the welfare of others by donating or volunteering. Beyond their time, San Diegans contribute financially to the causes they care about, which can provide nonprofits with flexible resources to sustain and expand their work.
The percentage of San Diego County residents who volunteer has remained relatively stable for the past decade. Though volunteering activity decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a recovery in volunteering activity. Some organizations like I Love A Clean San Diego have observed a steady recovery in volunteer rates in recent years. In the third quarter of 2024, 39% of San Diego County residents reported volunteering for a local nonprofit.
While the number of people volunteering has increased since the pandemic, the amount of time spent volunteering has decreased compared to past years. In 2024, San Diegans on average volunteered for 22 hours each quarter, which is the lowest in the past eight years. Similar trends were observed nationally, where volunteerism made a return in recent years but the hours volunteered per person has declined.
In 2024, on average, 44% of households donated to a nonprofit. Charitable giving can help sustain local nonprofits and the programs that empower San Diego communities. The number of households that donated to local nonprofits has remained rather steady though there are fluctuations from year to year.
In 2024, San Diego households donated $444 a quarter on average. Looking at the past ten years, 2020 was a big year for giving – households donated $562 per quarter. The amount of giving has remained stable after 2020, though there was a slight decrease between 2023 and 2024. The most common nonprofits donated to were food banks, zoos and animal shelters, and housing and shelters.
Voting
The voter turnout for the 2024 general election was 64%, 10% lower than the 2020 elections. In the 2020 general election, San Diego County had its highest voter turnout in the past 20 years, with 74% of eligible citizens voting. This was a 20% increase in voter turnout since the 2016 election. Note, the denominator in 2004-2024 is based on the Citizen Voting Eligible population, which includes all possible eligible voters and excludes people who cannot vote for legal reasons. Understanding the decline in voter turnout will require a deeper look at several factors including the automatic voter registration system, outreach to new eligible voters, and voters’ confidence in the current voting system.
This map displays the voter turnout rate in San Diego County by census tract. Click on the legend button on the left-hand side of the map to view the list of layers, such as Military Bases.
Voter turnout in the 2024 general election varied considerably by neighborhood and tended to be higher in upper-income neighborhoods than in lower-income neighborhoods. Within the San Diego Promise Zone (SDPZ), an area spanning 6.4 square miles from Barrio Logan to Encanto, and designated as one of the City’s most underserved communities. In this area, 20 of the 21 census tracts had a voter turnout of less than 50%.
Incivility in civic culture
Elected officials in southern California continue to face threats and harassment toward themselves and their families, including their children. Research by USD’s Violence, Inequality and Power Lab found that the volume of threats and harassment experienced by elected officials has worsened, raising alarm for the quality of local democracy. In 2023, 66% of officials reported receiving threats or harassment. For some, these threats were not a one-time occurrence. One in five elected officials reported experiencing threats and harassment on a weekly basis.
Increased intensity in threats was reported by officials across racial, gender, and political demographics. This pattern undermines community cohesion and our ability to address urgent challenges and build public trust, not just with government officials, but community members as well. A local nonprofit leader experienced verbal harassment from the public while giving a public comment during a forum. The rise of public incivility raises concern for the deterioration of a safe and inclusive civic culture.
Related Indicators
Related Indicators
- Housing
- Employment and Income
- Climate Change
Building new housing in a city needs input from residents and lawmakers. Homeownership is also linked to increased civic participation.
Why is civic engagement important?
High quality of life means the region boasts a thriving economy, a healthy environment, and an equitable place for all San Diegans to grow and prosper.
Economy
Civic participation takes many forms and is closely linked to economic and social benefits. Activities such as attending council meetings, volunteering, helping neighbors, and voting, can foster positive outcomes for youth, including improved economic and educational success. Volunteerism in particular supports essential services across society. In 2024, the estimated value of a volunteer hour in California for 2024 was $40.14, underscoring the significant economic contribution of volunteer labor. Strong civic health may therefore signal great potential in a local economy or the willingness of residents and companies to invest in their community.
Environment
Some efforts to protect and improve the environmental health of the San Diego region started with local advocacy and are safeguarded by policy. The Environmental Health Coalition successfully advocated for California’s first county-wide Community Right to Know Act. Environmental nonprofits account for 2% of the San Diego region’s nonprofits, and about half of them have a budget of $250,000 or less. These organizations rely on volunteers to achieve their missions. To address climate issues, larger initiatives can help leverage funds to carry out projects. In the case of government initiatives, this may require residents to vote on ballot measures. The rapidly changing climate calls for greater levels of engagement from the community to address the environmental challenges the region faces today.
Equity
One way to close the equity gap in San Diego is promoting and reducing barriers to civic participation. Research suggests that communities with higher rates of civic participation have higher rates of social capital and lower rates of income inequality. Barriers to civic participation can vary by demographic. Historic and ongoing instances of gerrymandering and voter suppression affect communities of color most. For youth and student voters, they often cite difficulties such as not knowing enough about voter registration, deadlines, moving homes frequently, and not having a driver’s license.
Regional Response
Policies
The County of San Diego Board of Supervisors directed the Registrar of Voters to transition San Diego County's voting model to the Voter's Choice Act model in October of 2021. This means that all active, registered voters will automatically receive a ballot in the mail. This gives voters the choice to submit their ballot by mail, at a drop-off location, or a nearby Vote Center.
Youth of at least 16 years of age can pre-register to vote. Their registration will become active on their 18th birthday.
California Labor Code Section 1720.4 clearly outlines who is considered a volunteer. It is important for volunteers and organizations to be aware of these distinctions and legal risks. Legal protections encourage volunteerism and safeguard nonprofit resources.
Projects
USD Votes Campaign offers college students a guide on registering to vote and how to vote from their home address or their college address.
Youth Will is a youth-led organization in San Diego that allows young people to develop skills in civic engagement and address issues youth face across the region. Their programming includes classes, organizing, professional development, and community outreach.
Partnerships
The Community Budget Alliance is a coalition coordinated by the Center on Policy Initiatives, that includes over 20 San Diego organizations committed to increasing community involvement in local government, particularly for youth and underrepresented communities.
Public Matters is a journalism project developed by KPBS, inewsource, and Voice of San Diego designed to expand the culture of civic engagement. This project will lead up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 2026.
What are we tracking?
The Nonprofit Institute collaborates with Luth Research to conduct a quarterly survey, gauging San Diegans' views on local nonprofits and their giving/volunteering activities. The State of Nonprofits Quarterly Index is administered online to a panel of San Diego residents that reflects the region's racial and ethnic distribution. Voting data for San Diego County mainly comes from the California Office of the Secretary of State. For the 2000 General Election, voter turnout data was calculated using information from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters and U.S. Census data on Citizen Voting Age Population (CVAP). Learn more about the data.