How are Nebraskans showing up for one another, and where are the cracks? From neighborly trust to the challenges of staying connected, the new report maps our civic landscape.

“The 2025 Nebraska Civic Health Index, released by Civic Nebraska in partnership with the National Conference on Citizenship, provides a detailed, data-rich look at how Nebraskans engage with one another, their institutions, and the democratic process. Published every five years, the Index explores four dimensions of civic health: Civic Trust, Civic Access, Civic Action, and Civic Knowledge. Check out these findings on political engagement, disparities in civic knowledge, volunteerism & confidence in institutions.”

From the summary report . . .

Civic Trust: close-knit communities, uneven confidence in institutions. Nebraskans report strong interpersonal ties. One-third regularly spend time with neighbors, ranking sixth nationally, and 85.5% engage frequently with family and friends. [But] trust in broader institutions shows signs of strain. In rural areas, the share of residents who feel powerless to affect the direction of their community has jumped from 24% in 2019 to 40% in 2024. 

Civic Access: Participation is strong, but infrastructure gaps persist. More than a third of Nebraskans report being involved in at least one community group, ranking sixth in the nation. [But] challenges persist in civic infrastructure. Rural residents, in particular, express lower satisfaction with access to cultural activities. Only 25% report being satisfied with local cultural offerings.

Civic Action: strong volunteerism, declining political engagement. Nebraskans remain among the nation’s most active volunteers. Over 40% of respondents reported donating time to a cause, the third highest in the country. [But] voting participation, while still relatively strong, has also declined in some key areas. Between 2021 and 2024, turnout dropped 9.4% among women and 10.8% in rural areas. 

Civic Knowledge: staying informed, but not equally. Nearly 70% of Nebraskans report frequently consuming news, ranking us seventh highest nationally. [But] women and residents aged 30 to 44 are engaging less with news than in previous years.

Read the report and discuss how to make a change for the better with your family and friends. It’s up to us to take action.