New Be The People — Gallup Survey Links Community to Belonging

New Be The People-Gallup Survey: Americans More Involved in Their Community Feel Deeper Sense of Belonging, See Greater Role in Shaping the Future of America

One of the largest surveys of its kind finds that Americans who contribute in their communities feel more connected to the country and more capable of changing it. Be The People is working to show Americans how much of that contribution is already happening around them to inspire even more people to get involved.

NEW YORK (September 30, 2026) — Americans who are more involved in their community are twice as likely to feel part of something bigger than themselves and are 20 points more likely to say they have a personal role in shaping the future of the entire country, according to a survey of more than 8,000 U.S. adults conducted by Gallup as part of a new partnership with Be The People. The survey affirms that Americans getting involved in solving problems locally in their community can meaningfully improve their sense of belonging and their belief in their own ability to shape the future.

The survey also found that most individuals who are not currently involved but want to be are waiting for an invitation to contribute. These findings sit at the center of Be The People, a 10-year effort launched on the country’s 250th anniversary to connect community problem-solvers with millions of Americans ready to do their part. The survey found that more than half (52%) of respondents strongly agree that people working together in this country can make a real difference. Yet many describe barriers to taking part, with 26% saying no one has asked them to get involved and 24% responding that they don’t know how.

Read the full Gallup survey analysis here. Other key highlights include:

• Community connection is closely associated with agency. Adults who feel very or extremely connected to their community are nearly three times as likely as those who feel less connected to strongly agree their actions make a difference locally, 47% vs. 17%. They are also 10 percentage points more likely to strongly agree they can help shape the country’s future, 25% vs. 15%.
• How involved Americans are in their community relates to their sense of belonging in the country overall. Highly connected adults are nearly twice as likely to say they often or very often feel part of something bigger than themselves, 49% vs. 25%, and are nearly 20 points more likely to often or very often feel there is a place for them in America, 60% vs. 41%.
• Outright disinterest in helping one’s community is rare. Only 6% select “I’m not interested in being involved” from the list of possible barriers preventing them from doing more to help their community.

“Connecting people to opportunities in their local communities creates a flywheel. When someone gets involved and does something meaningful for another person, they start to believe in their own agency and their ability to shape what comes next, which encourages further progress,” said Todd Rose, a member of Be The People’s National Leadership Council and the Co-Founder and CEO of Populace. “Social media would have us believe that we are hopelessly divided, but this data shows that taking even one small action to help a neighbor can open up a much bigger sense of what is possible, strengthening our confidence that we can still work together to solve problems and bring out the best in who we are as Americans.”

No single organization on its own can show Americans the scale of contribution happening across the country. That’s why Be The People’s National Leadership Council (NLC) exists — an unprecedented coalition of more than 50 leaders and organizations across culture, business, philanthropy, faith, sports, and community life, many already solving problems in communities through their own networks, platforms, and work.

“This survey confirms what we see in communities every day: Americans want to help their neighbors, and those that do find deeper meaning in their own lives and feel more connected to the lives of others,” said Elena Dussaq, President of Bigger Picture, the nonprofit organization behind Be The People. “This data shows us that the best way to overcome division and the feeling that we can't make a difference is to get involved right where we live. Our National Leadership Council members are helping people do exactly that, at a scale no one organization could reach alone."

Following Through on the Mission

These findings come as Be The People continues to reignite the American spirit by showing Americans the scale of contribution already happening around them and giving everyone a way in. Be The People has been busy this year connecting people directly to the problem-solvers already making a difference in communities across the country, demonstrating what Be The People looks like in action:

• In June, Be The People released the original track "Gotta Be Us (Be The People)", an anthem celebrating the unsung American heroes who show up and solve problems in their communities, which now has more than 3 million streams. The song is about how each of us has a role to play in solving the problems holding our country back, and that it’s up to all of us to build a better future. Be The People chose to release a song because music uniquely has the power to inspire and bring people together to remind us we’re part of something bigger.
• In June, NLC member GivingTuesday launched TogetherTuesday alongside with Be The People, a national day of community action when Americans across the country showed up for one another through countless meaningful acts. More than 460 organizations across 44 states showed up to get involved.
• Throughout the summer, Be The People showed up at events in cities across the country – from live music festivals to community-based gatherings to “Be The People Fests” that paired live music with opportunities to support organizations doing on-the-ground work – bringing the invitation and NLC partners to members of those communities.
• In February, Be The People NLC members NBA, Habitat for Humanity, Aloe Blacc, and Stand Together joined forces in Los Angeles to mobilize more than 500 volunteers to help rebuild homes for families displaced by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires.
• In January, Be The People and the Atlanta Hawks launched their Atlanta Changemakers campaign naming NLC members Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King as its first honorees for their work to facilitate 100 million hours of civic and community service, then recognized Atlanta educator and youth advocate Mikal Driver in April, selected from more than 670 nominees for his work creating pathways of opportunity for young people across the city.

Today, BeThePeople.org is live with more than 50,000 problem-solving opportunities and more than 700 stories of contribution. Taken together, these efforts show Americans how much local problem-solving is already underway around them, inspiring even more people to make a contribution in their own communities.

About the Be The People/Gallup Survey

The Be The People/Gallup American Identity Survey is one of the most extensive efforts of its kind, drawing on more than 8,000 U.S. adults surveyed from April 20 to June 26, 2026. Be The People is measuring sentiment across three dimensions: attitudes, behavior, and culture. Gallup’s survey research provides rigorous, independent analysis that will help inform and guide Be The People’s activities.

ABOUT BE THE PEOPLE

Be The People puts a name to a nationwide movement that’s happening in communities across the country. By helping Americans do what they do best—roll up their sleeves and solve problems in their communities—we can reignite the American spirit and ensure the nation’s next 250 years are even better than the last. Supported by a broad coalition of organizations, businesses, philanthropies, artists, athletes, and faith and cultural leaders, Be The People is bringing together thousands of proven, community-led solutions into a shared problem-solving platform that lifts up the stories of those who are working together to solve problems holding others back and shows Americans how to contribute and make a difference where they live.

Sign up, share your story, find your role at BeThePeople.org and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.