How to Evaluate and Report on Community Engagement

Why Evaluation Matters

Evaluation is a critical part of any community engagement process. It helps you understand what worked, what didn’t, and where improvements can be made. More importantly, it shows whether the community’s input made a difference.

A clear and intentional evaluation process allows you to:

• Measure whether engagement objectives were achieved

• Understand who was reached — and who wasn’t

• Identify what feedback influenced decisions

• Improve your internal practices over time

• Build credibility with your community and stakeholders

Without evaluation, it's difficult to demonstrate the value of your engagement or improve future efforts.

What to Evaluate

Evaluation should examine both the process and the impact of your engagement activities.

Process Evaluation

• Were the right stakeholders identified and invited to participate?

• Were the methods inclusive, accessible, and appropriate for the context?

• Was the timeline realistic and effectively implemented?

• Was the information clear, timely, and easy to understand?

Impact Evaluation

• Did community input influence project decisions or directions?

• Were participants kept informed of outcomes?

• Did the process build trust or improve relationships?

• Were there observable changes in community attitudes, behaviours, or support?

How to Measure Success

Use both quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate effectively.

Capturing what people said is important — but so is how they said it. Look for patterns in tone, emphasis, and recurring priorities.

What’s Next

Once you’ve completed your evaluation, the next step is to report back to participants and stakeholders. This helps close the loop and shows that feedback was heard and valued.

Read the next guide: How to Write a Best Practice Community Engagement Outcomes Report

Or return to the full guide: How to Write a Community Engagement Plan