Over half of North Americans have never been invited to shape decisions in their communities, and those who have largely don't believe it made a difference

The State of Engagement Report 2026 highlights a growing disconnect between how organisations run engagement versus how communities experience it. Over half of respondents said they have never been directly invited or asked to participate in consultations, while only 38% reportedly feel engaged/participated. Overall, the findings suggest engagement practices are not meeting community expectations, likely increasing reputational and compliance risk for involved organisations.