Activism
Table of Contents
Understanding Activism
When we pour our time, effort, and resources into activism, the last thing we want is for any of that to go to waste. This page is intended to guide any current or would-be activist to better understand what activism is, the different levels, different types, and other useful information to help along this rewarding journey.
Levels of Activism
Activism can be complex as there are may layers to a movement, from the volunteers working at outreach tables, politicians who write new laws, down to general public, who's daily activities can compound to make big changes.
Click the Levels of Activism button to learn more about the 4 levels of activism from personal (Level 1), family & friends (Level 2), communities, local governments, and companies (Level 3), to the national and international framework that makes up Level 4.Â
All of these influence on another, supporting one another, or leading to failure when one level doesn't support, or even blocks actions in the other levels.Â
Types of Activism
Our Types of Activism page gives some examples of the many types of activism. This is not a definitive list, but intended to give a small overview and hopefully some inspiration. Feel free to make suggestions!
Communication for Activists & Planners
Communication is critical to success. Simple changes is phrasing or imagery can make powerful differences to interpretation and effectiveness. Careless communication can cause serious damage to what would otherwise be very effective and valuable projects, damage relationships, or worse, cause genuine harm.Â
People involved in activism and community planning can have great power in shaping our future, therefore we have an even greater responsibility to ensure we are using these powers to help and support positive outcomes both for ourselves and others who may be effected.Â
Listening is often an undervalued skill, but it creates stronger results, creates stronger relationships, and helps us adapt together instead of crushing those who might otherwise be ignored.
Click the Communication button to for more resources that can help you achieve better communication.
Tools & Guides for Activists
A Student Guide for Community Organization (PDF) "I wrote this guide as a collection of anecdotes and lessons I have learned from being an undocumented, working-class woman of color who is also an organizer and a student. I want this guide to inspire people to organize in their communities and develop the tools they need in the ongoing fight for liberation and freedom. I chose to write this guide as a form of resilience.
Over the past six years, I have been an organizer and have had to balance school, work, and being an activist. At times I had to prioritize my organizing over my own academic goals, and I am now just understanding how to balance each part of my life." While this guides is directed at students, it's got valuable lessons for people outside of school too.
Organizations
You don't have to join and organization to make an impact, but doing so can help you make a much greater impact than working alone. Organizations can help direct you towards impactful goals, by educating and supporting you in your mission. You can meet amazing people, learn about resources and other groups which you may also find useful.
Listed in this section is just a tiny fraction of groups working hard to help protect and restore our planet, help support human rights, protect our food system, as well as other key topics that will ensure a livable planet for everyone.Â
We've focused on including general organizations on this page, but if you want to do a specific type of work like oyster reef restoration, then you can find a list of organizations on the specific topic pages throughout this website. Some pages also include a list of existing projects and programs you may be able to join or support locally.
International
Friends of the Earth "strives for a more healthy and just world. We understand that the challenges facing our planet call for more than half measures, so we push for the reforms that are needed, not merely the ones that are politically easy.
Sometimes, this involves speaking uncomfortable truths to power and demanding more than people think is possible. It’s hard work. But the pressures facing our planet and its people are too important for us to compromise."Snowchange Cooperative "a network of local and Indigenous cultures around the world – our partners include the Saami, Chukchi, Yukaghir, Inuit, Inuvialuit, Inupiaq, Gwitchin, Icelandic, Tahltan, Maori, Indigenous Australian and many other local and Indigenous peoples and communities. Members of these Nations form the international Steering Committee of Snowchange.
Snowchange Cooperative is a powerful scientific organisation too. We work with the Arctic Council, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Climate Crisis Advisory Group, National Science Foundation of USA, several universities and partners on questions of biodiversity, climate change and local communities. We have created books, photo albums, international conferences, political changes – Snowchange represents the positive change the North needs."Extinction Rebellion "Life on Earth is in crisis. Our climate is changing faster than scientists predicted and the stakes are high. Biodiversity loss. Crop failure. Social and ecological collapse. Mass extinction. We are running out of time, and our governments have failed to act. Extinction Rebellion was formed to fix this."
Oil Change International "is a research, communications, and advocacy organization focused on exposing the true costs of fossil fuels and facilitating the ongoing transition to clean energy."
Volunteer Matching Apps/Sites for Your Area
VolunteerMatch "matches inspired people with inspiring causes. It's how volunteers and nonprofits connect to achieve remarkable outcomes." This site isn't specifically focused on helping the environment, but does include such projects as they become available around the world.
Europe
Rewilding Europe "Rewilding is being practiced at scale across Europe. The application of rewilding principles, models and tools is delivering measurable, demonstrable, and sustained benefits for nature and people. With many actors we create a Europe that is richer in nature and more resilient to climate change."
Finland
Snowchange Cooperative "a network of local and Indigenous cultures around the world – our partners include the Saami, Chukchi, Yukaghir, Inuit, Inuvialuit, Inupiaq, Gwitchin, Icelandic, Tahltan, Maori, Indigenous Australian and many other local and Indigenous peoples and communities. Members of these Nations form the international Steering Committee of Snowchange.
Snowchange Cooperative is a powerful scientific organisation too. We work with the Arctic Council, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Climate Crisis Advisory Group, National Science Foundation of USA, several universities and partners on questions of biodiversity, climate change and local communities. We have created books, photo albums, international conferences, political changes – Snowchange represents the positive change the North needs.
For Young Activists
Young Friends of the Earth "is a grassroots network of young people and youth organisations working for social and environmental justice on a local, national and European level.
We’re active in over 20 countries across Europe, and bring together powerful local Young Friends of the Earth groups. We work in cooperation with both Friends of the Earth Europe and Friends of the Earth International, and share a common vision and mission.
Our common understanding of the world and vision of a just system for everyone unites us, and we take action on climate justice, food and agriculture, and sustainability education. We are an inclusive network committed to organising, working together and campaigning in an intersectional way.
We are proud to be a grassroots network that is owned and led by its young members. We work in a horizontal and democratic way, where all members count equally and all voices are heard."
France
Les Shifters "Les Shifters est une association loi 1901, créée en 2014 pour apporter un soutien bénévole au centre de réflexion The Shift Project, qui œuvre à la décarbonation de l'économie."
The Shift Project "is a French think tank advocating the shift to a post-carbon economy. As a non-profit organisation committed to serving the general interest through scientific objectivity, we are dedicated to informing and influencing the debate on energy transition in Europe."
UK
Youngwilders "is a non-profit focused on accelerating nature recovery in the UK and involving young people in the process and movement"
North America
USA
Environmental Voter Project "We identify inactive environmentalists and transform them into consistent voters to build the power of the environmental movement."
Maps
International
More People Care About Climate Change than You Think "The majority of people in every country support action on climate, but the public consistently underestimates this share."
Grants & Funding
International
Animal Charity Evaluators "ACE Movement Grants (formerly “Effective Animal Advocacy Fund”) is for anyone who is interested in making the animal advocacy movement more effective."
Beyond Animal "Where investors and vegan businesses meet" "Using technology, for online funding, networking and business services, to accelerate the transition to an economy free of animal exploitation. Our vision: a kinder, cleaner, healthier world."
EA Animal Welfare Fund "The Animal Welfare Fund supports advocacy, research, and movement-building work aimed at improving the wellbeing of nonhuman animals, primarily farmed and wild animals. This includes corporate and policy advocacy, research, and the promotion of alternative products."
Farmed Animal Funders "Our group is open to all individuals and foundations giving more than $250,000 per year to end factory farming."
The Greenbaum Foundation "At The Greenbaum Foundation, we focus our funding on effective and efficient projects working to bring about the end of suffering (human and non-human) in areas of the highest need and where we can have the most impact. We assist organizations with guidance, networking and funding."
The Pollination Project (TPP) "is a vegan foundation that offers seed funding to grassroots activists working to build a kinder, more compassionate world for human & non-human animals.
TPP focuses on early stage ideas and funds individuals directly. Over the years, they’ve seen the power of bottom-up, community-led grassroots activism. Through “pollination philanthropy”– a democratic model of peer-to-peer decision-making — TPP works with a global network of grantees, community partners, and volunteer advisors to identify extraordinary project leaders who, due to the grassroots nature of their work, are often not in a position to receive funding from other foundations or institutions.
They make micro grants 365 days a year to grassroots global change agents and have a growing global community of 4,500 grassroots leaders in 150 countries. They support vegan outreach projects around the world, and have a special program for farmed animal activists in Brazil, India and Mexico. Their goal is to offer not just seed funding, but capacity-building support and connectivity with other activists working in the same geographic or issue area."VegFund "offers grants to help you do just that! VegFund accepts applications for funding outreach in three areas: Community Events, Special Projects, and Online Campaigns."
North America
Food for Thought "We have several grant opportunities to help you make these goals a reality!"
Oceana
Australia
Western Australia
The Sustainability Grants Program (in the City of Cockburn) "offers funding for projects related to six sustainability themes. Open to small businesses, schools, not-for-profits, and collective households, successful applicants can receive up to $4,000 for their project."