According to a recent article in Parade, there is a boom in compassion and public service is becoming a way of life for Americans. Parade surveyed more than 1,000 Americans and found that 94 percent believed it was important to be personally involved in supporting a cause in their communities that they believe in.

At JVA Consulting, we stand by the belief that one person can change the world. This philosophy fuels our passion and reminds us everyday that each client we work with has the potential to make the world a better place. Seventy-eight percent of Parade survey respondents said they held the same belief, that the actions of one person can improve the world.

The survey also found that Americans were embracing technology and social media as a way to spread awareness about the causes that were important to them. Twenty-seven percent of respondents had used email, Facebook or Twitter as a tool to communicate about their cause. This is good news for nonprofits as social media offers an efficient and inexpensive tool for drawing more attention to important causes and raising more money.

Another remarkable finding in the survey is that 68 percent of those who engaged in some form of public service were motivated by personal experience, with 40 percent saying that experience was a positive one. This serves as a reminder that as you work for your cause, there are dividends paid to your community that you may never see or even be aware of. The impact of your programs can extend beyond your organization’s mission when the people you help become inspired to help others.

To all the readers of Nonprofit Street, what are you noticing in the “compassion boom?” Are the trends today different than what you may have experienced during past economic downturns? We want to hear from you. Take this quick survey and give us your thoughts.