Once, movements filled the streets with bold demands for justice. Sit-ins, marches, and protests disrupted the status quo and challenged oppressive systems. Today, many of those same movements host elegant fundraising galas and corporate-sponsored events. What happened to unapologetic advocacy? Where did the boldness go?

When I started my grassroots nonprofit, I believed we could change the world. I had a vision of fearless advocacy—one that echoed the spirit of past movements like the Civil Rights Movement and the 504 Sit-In. I imagined organizations standing firm against injustice, prioritizing humanity over bureaucracy, and creating tangible progress rather than settling for buzzwords.

But what I found was an advocacy world that had shifted: one where funding outweighs humanity and compliance with the system seems more important than challenging it. Many organizations that once fought boldly for progress now feel more like corporations than movements for change.

This isn’t to say large organizations aren’t doing good work—they are. But the boldness that once defined advocacy has softened. Protests have turned into fundraising galas, and grassroots energy has been replaced by a troubling focus on compliance with systems that advocacy was meant to disrupt.

The Shift in Advocacy

Advocacy organizations were born out of a need to challenge the status quo. Movements like the Civil Rights Movement, the disability rights movement, and countless other grassroots efforts were fueled by people who refused to accept injustice. These movements were messy, risky, and bold. They didn’t seek permission—they demanded change.

Today, many large advocacy organizations have become institutionalized. They rely on funding from governments, corporations, and foundations, which often comes with strings attached. To keep these funds flowing, they focus on compliance, metrics, and optics—sometimes at the expense of the communities they serve.

The Balance Between a Movement and an Organization

One of the greatest challenges in advocacy is balancing the energy of a movement with the structure of an organization. Many organizations are born out of powerful movements, but over time, they lose sight of their origins. The need to sustain the organization—its staff, funding, and reputation—begins to take precedence over the movement itself.

Movements, by their nature, are disruptive and transformative. They challenge the status quo and demand systemic change. Organizations, on the other hand, often develop structures that encourage stability, hierarchy, and compliance. While structure can help sustain advocacy efforts over time, it can also stifle the boldness and urgency that drive movements forward.

We must never forget that the movement is more important than the organization. The mission and the cause must always take precedence over the desire to maintain the status quo. Advocacy should never reach a point where it becomes so focused on compliance and comfort that it waits for crises to break the system before taking bold action. True advocacy requires proactive disruption, not reactive conformity.

Organizations Are Made Up of People

Organizations themselves are not faceless entities—they are made up of people. And these people, when inspired and empowered, can drive transformative change, both within the system and beyond it. They have the power to not only challenge systems of oppression but to inspire others to stand up as well.

Most people want to stand up against injustice, but the risks of doing so alone can feel overwhelming. Fear of losing a job, relationships, safety, or stability holds many individuals back. That’s why organizations and movements are so critical: they create the collective strength needed to challenge systems that no single person could take on alone. We must stand together—and we must never let those who are willing to stand up do so alone.

The Grassroots Struggle

As the founder of a grassroots nonprofit, I’ve experienced firsthand how difficult it is to stay true to your mission while navigating these challenges. Grassroots organizations, the lifeblood of advocacy, often face significant barriers:

Ostracization for Non-Compliance: Refusing to “fit into the box” of larger nonprofits or government expectations can make grassroots groups seem like troublemakers. Larger organizations may view them as too radical, even when they’re addressing urgent community needs.

Barriers to Funding: Unless you’re independently wealthy or willing to align with strict funding criteria, securing resources can feel impossible. The system rewards those who play by the rules, even when those rules perpetuate inequality.

Pressure to Scale: There’s an unspoken expectation that successful organizations should grow bigger and adopt hierarchical structures. But scaling often comes at a cost—grassroots energy is replaced by bureaucracy, and the original mission can become diluted.

When you stay small and non-compliant, you’re often left out of the conversation entirely. You’re told to “work within the system,” but what if the system itself is what needs changing?

The Cost of Conformity

The shift toward compliance and institutionalization has far-reaching consequences—not just for advocacy organizations, but for the communities they serve:

Dilution of Advocacy’s Mission: When organizations prioritize funding and metrics, they risk losing sight of their original purpose. The people they serve become numbers on a report rather than human beings with dignity and value.

Loss of Bold Action: Movements like the 504 Sit-In or the Civil Rights Movement remind us of the power of direct action. These moments of boldness changed the world, but today, many organizations shy away from such risks.

Reinforcing the Status Quo: By working too closely with existing systems, advocacy organizations may inadvertently uphold the very structures they were created to dismantle. Instead of pushing for systemic change, they settle for incremental progress.

A Call to Action

It doesn’t have to be this way. Advocacy can return to its roots, but it will require a collective effort from all of us—grassroots leaders, larger organizations, and supporters alike.

For Larger Organizations:

Remember Your Roots: Advocacy is about people, not paperwork. Embrace the boldness that once defined your mission, even if it comes with risks.

Fund Grassroots Movements Without Strings Attached: Consider models like participatory grantmaking, where grassroots leaders have a say in how funds are allocated. Trust smaller organizations to know what their communities need.

Amplify Grassroots Voices: Use your platforms to highlight the work of smaller organizations and ensure they’re invited to decision-making spaces.

For Grassroots Leaders:

Stay True to Your Mission: The path is harder when you refuse to conform, but your authenticity is your greatest strength. Real change starts at the grassroots level.

Build Coalitions: Partner with other grassroots organizations to amplify your impact. Collaboration can help overcome resource challenges and create a unified voice for change.

Explore Alternative Funding: Crowdfunding campaigns, individual donors, and community-driven funding models can provide resources without requiring you to compromise your values.

For Supporters:

Invest in Grassroots Advocacy: Donate, volunteer, and amplify the work of smaller nonprofits. They are often the ones doing the most impactful work, even if they don’t have the same visibility as larger organizations.

Stand Together: When you see someone standing up against injustice, stand with them. Most people want to take action but fear the risks of doing so alone. Your support can make all the difference.

Hold Larger Organizations Accountable: Ask the organizations you support how they’re staying connected to the communities they serve. Challenge them to prioritize humanity over bureaucracy.

Final Thoughts

True advocacy begins with people—not systems, not funding, and not compliance. It’s about standing up for what’s right, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. The movements that changed history were led by individuals and groups who refused to accept the status quo.

If we want to see real progress in our communities, we must support the grassroots movements that dare to challenge the system. Large organizations must reconnect with their roots, grassroots leaders must remain bold, and supporters must demand more.

Advocacy must return to its humanity, its boldness, and its unwavering commitment to justice. And we must never forget: the movement is more important than the organization. Structures can change, but the mission and the movement must endure. Most importantly, we must stand together. When one person dares to stand up, don’t let them stand alone. Together, we can create the bold, meaningful change that advocacy was always meant to achieve.