Civic Engagement
Civic engagement is broadly defined as individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern. Civic engagement is the platform for people to express their voice and to contribute to political, social, and cultural activities in the Austin area. Key indicators for civic engagement include: volunteerism and engagement in community, philanthropic activity, access to culture and the arts, and political participation. Generally, Austin performs well when compared to state and national trends, but disparities by income, race and ethnicity, and county persist.
Key Indicators
Foundation Density
Travis County has a robust philanthropic sector with a relatively high foundation density of 3.5 per 10,000 residents and high asset reinvestment per capital equal to $216. More work needs to be done to develop the philanthropic sector in Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, and Williamson counties.
Individual Philanthropy
Between 2015 and 2018, the percentage of individuals who gave $1-$500 to charitable organizations has decreased from 64.8% to 45.8% while those who gave $500 or more increased from 23.25% to 29.11%. The percentage of those who did not donate increased from %11.86 to 25.02%
Neighborliness
Approximately 87% and 65% of Austin area residents trust their neighbors and say they have things in common with them respctively. However, the percentage of African Americans who report to trust their neighbors is well below that (68.9%)
Arts
Residents feel strongly that the quality of the arts is improving; the region is seeing an increase in employment in the arts and nonprofit arts organizations; and enrollment is increasing in 7-12th grade arts programs.
Voter Turnout
Voter registration and voter turnout for midterm elections saw a significant increase in all Austin Area counties in 2018, the highest being in Williamson county, from 38.2% to 62.25%.
Volunteering
In 2015, 51.4% of those surveyed report volunteering at least five hours or more. In 2018 that number has dropped to 36.1%