Public Affairs, Government Relations & Legislation

Help shape industry insights with the 2026 Grassroots Advocacy Reality Survey

AdvocacyAI

May 14, 2026

In 1996, the first “email your lawmaker” tool was introduced.

Thirty years later, email-based advocacy remains one of the most common tactics in public affairs. Even as the political environment, technology, and communication habits surrounding advocacy have changed dramatically.

This project collects firsthand data from lobbyists, advocacy professionals, legislative staff, government affairs professionals, and campaign strategists — the people with real, regular access to lawmakers and their offices — to build a clearer picture of where grassroots advocacy is actually having impact in 2026. The results will be published as a free public resource for the entire field.

Take the Survey & Get the Final Report

Be the first to recieve the benchmark report. This is your chance to contribute to the benchmarks and strategies that guide our field.

Start Survey Now

Get the Report Later

Not qualified or interested in taking the survey? Request to recieve the report once it's published.

Request the Report

Who Should Participate

This survey is for professionals who interact with lawmakers, legislative offices, or the policy process regularly (at least monthly, in a professional capacity.)

That includes:

Registered lobbyists
Government affairs and policy staff
Public affairs consultants and agency professionals
Coalition directors and managers
Current and former legislative staff

Why Participate

Participants can choose to receive the full benchmark report before public release.

For legislative staff and policy professionals, it's a direct opportunity to shape how advocacy organizations understand and approach your offices. For advocacy professionals, it's third-party data you can use in strategic planning, budget conversations, and internal decision-making.

2026 Grassroots Advocacy Effectiveness Benchmark Report (1200 x 628 px) (4)

About this Project

This research is sponsored and distributed by AdvocacyAI as an industry initiative. The survey was shaped with input from professionals across nonprofit, corporate, and public affairs advocacy.

Findings will be reviewed before publication and shared with contributors before public release.

Questions about the survey or methodology: Bree Benn — bree@advocacyai.com

Privacy
Submitting your contact information gets you the report. You will not be added to a marketing list.
Respondents may optionally choose to be credited by name and organization in the published report if they wish.

FAQ

What does the survey actually cover?

The survey asks about your direct experience with grassroots advocacy — what types of constituent contact you've observed or managed, how you perceive their effectiveness, what's changed, and where you think advocacy campaigns are wasting time and resources. It's a mix of multiple choice and short qualitative responses.

Why is AdvocacyAI's role?

We will be presenting the initial fundings of this report alongside independent digital organizers at a conference in June, 2026.

We build advocacy software, so we have a real interest in understanding what's working in the field. But the report isn't going to mention AdvocacyAI features or make product recommendations.

The goal is usable industry data that helps advocacy professionals make better decisions — that's valuable to the field whether or not someone ever buys our software. The questions are designed to surface honest findings, including ones that might be inconvenient for how advocacy is done, using our platform or others.

How will my responses be used?

Responses are aggregated and anonymized in the published report. Individual answers will not be attributed to you or your organization unless you explicitly opt into that. Raw data will not be shared or sold.

Can I be credited in the report?

Yes, optionally. At the end of the survey you can choose to have your name and organization acknowledged in the final report. Most respondents stay anonymous. Either is fine.