How to Become a Paid Activist
A guide to picking a career for those who don’t want to be saving the world after hours
Let’s face it: being an activist after hours is exhausting.
You want to do good in the world, but you also need to put food on the table. You want to serve your cause — and also take care of yourself.
You don’t want to wear burnout as an activist “badge of honor.”
There is a pervasive narrative that if you care about something, you shouldn’t expect to earn money from it. You should just roll up your sleeves, get to work, and help. But where is this narrative coming from?
The ethos of an unpaid, tired activist who sacrifices themselves for the greater good doesn’t serve you. And, it doesn’t serve the world. It fuels ineffective, unsustainable activism and makes it more difficult to make a difference.
What if, for the next 13 minutes of this article you embraced a different mindset?
There’s enough money in the world to pay activists. Think of all the independent funders, NGOs, and people of good will. Think of all the social change that is underway, If you really want it, your salary will be covered.
I want to help you think through a few possible scenarios of how this can happen.
What Do You Mean By an “Activist”?
The word “activist” brings some images to mind.
- A person shouting in a street protest or speaking at a rally.
- Someone wandering around their neighborhood to collect petition signatures.
- An online activist who posts a fundraising campaign on social media for their birthday.
These are all good examples of an activist — but they aren’t the definition. Especially if you’re considering activism as a career, you need to think more broadly.
An activist is someone who doesn’t agree to accept injustice and who takes action to tackle it. This is the important part. An activist isn’t a theorist, someone who criticizes the status quo while sitting around doing nothing. As long as you don’t engage, you’re not an activist.
The bigger aim of activism is to create resilient, psychologically healthy, and socially equal communities. The focus on the collective is essential. A true activist believes in a better world for all, not just for some. For that, community care and engagement are key.
Notice that the above definition doesn’t require you to be in any particular role. Rather, it speaks to what your values and goals are. It doesn’t limit you to a specific cause either. Labels like human rights activist, environmental activist, racial justice activist, etc., are secondary — what matters is the mindset of an activist.
Most importantly, our definition doesn’t suggest that activism should be voluntary work. You can think about it as a way of being in service while making a living.
What to Consider Before Becoming a Paid Activist
Before we go any further, it’s helpful to ask yourself a simple question. Why do you want to get paid for your activist work?
In other words: What is important about activism being a part of your job?
The question might seem redundant at first. It’s simple, right? You want to do something good for the world and at the same time, you need to make money. Why not simplify it by combining these two things?
In my experience, making money from activism doesn’t always make things simpler. Once you start earning doing your heart work (and also — no doubt — hard work), the nature of your activism might change. You can encounter some obstacles you didn’t have to deal with before.
For example:
- If you carry some kind of emotional baggage around money (most of us do), getting paid for something you used to do for free may trigger discomfort. You may feel like you’re not deserving, become conflicted about the amount of your pay compared to others, and so on.
- You may need to compromise your personal views for the sake of matching the ethos of an organization. This can feel like you’re betraying yourself at times, not getting to the heart of the issue.
- Full-time activism can be taxing or even disheartening, especially if you’re dealing with heavy issues. Social issues like discrimination, injustice, effects of climate change, poverty may take a toll on your wellbeing — for example, by causing secondary trauma.
- The pay you receive may not feel adequate, especially when you consider the emotional load and/or unpaid overtime.
To show how those obstacles may play out, here’s a snippet of my story.
I have been running an Authentic Relating group for my community for the past two years. Most of that work was voluntary. Through our bi-weekly sessions, we’ve been nurturing a culture of open communication and emotional intelligence in Edinburgh.
I consider this a form of activism because it challenges the culture of “sweeping things under the rug” which is quite pervasive in the UK.
When I received a grant to run a communication course for the staff team, I was delighted. Now I could do my heart work and get paid! But when it got to planning the sessions, internal obstacles started creeping in. Because of the outcomes promised to the grant funders, I felt bound by expectations as to how to run the course.
That’s when I realized that activism and community work can never be planned down to a tee. There needs to be room for trial and error, adapting the plan last-minute, and letting go of what doesn’t work. I discovered there was much less room for those things once the activity was paid for by an external funder.
Of course, that’s my story and it might not work this way for you. But I want to alert you that with taking on activism as a paid role, a change of mindset will most likely follow.
This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t do it. It’s to say that knowing your motivations is really important. It will help you go through moments of doubt and remind you why you chose a social change career in the first place.
Before you take any decisions, go on a bit of an introspective journey. Why do you want to become a paid activist? Knowing the answer will help you stay on track in the long run.
(At Least) 5 Ways to Be a Paid Activist: Which One Is Yours?
“Activists can work in virtually any field, some work within advocacy organizations or even establish organizations, and some of the most impactful activism takes place within mainstream organizations of all types, including corporations. Many hires, advancement and progressive change is the result of activists working from the inside out.” — Felicia Davis, founder of HBCU Green Fund
According to Effective Activist, choosing an impactful career is one of the two top ways for an individual to make a difference. But what does an “impactful career” look like?
Being an activist in your job can mean a host of different things. You can get paid for some of your projects but not all. You can create a world-changing product or service. You can take on a full-time, highly impactful position in an organization. You can drive change “from the inside out” in a company that has nothing to do with social change.
The bottom line is, you have options. Choosing one might depend on factors such as:
How soon do you want to get into a paid activist role? If you want it fast, starting your own business might not be the best option. You may be more suited to start an activist job within an organization instead.
How set are you on your exact vision? Do you want to execute your own plan, or would you be willing to join an existing team? Are you prepared to make compromises on what you believe in? To what extent? These questions may help you decide whether or not you want to work for someone else.
Do you care about making a lot of money? There’s no right or wrong answer to this question. Be honest with yourself. There’s nothing shameful about wanting to earn well and live comfortably. However, if that’s your priority, it should also inform choices about your activist career.
To uncover more of your preferences, you can take our CivLead Changemaker Quiz. It will help you assess what kind of changemaker you are — and what else to consider in navigating your activist journey.
Meanwhile, let’s cover five most “classic” ways to get paid as an activist.
1. A full-time worker in a social impact organization
This may be the most obvious way to get paid as an activist. Find your way into an organization that works for social change, creates environmental impact, or does political advocacy — and get hired in a position that matches your skills and experience.
The caveat here is in answering what counts as a social change organization. While you may automatically think of some well-known non-profits, social impact can be broader than that.
According to the 80,000 Hours — an organization that helps people pick meaningful careers — some of the highest-impact careers in 2023 are in AI safety and governance, biorisk research, information security, building effective altruism communities, and operations management. The world is changing and so are the opportunities to make a difference.
2. A part-time employee working with communities “on the ground”
Another route to consider could be part-time work where you engage with community members directly. This is an opportunity for those who can’t or don’t want to go into full-time employment — for example, people with health conditions, students, or caregivers.
Typical positions may include a support worker, helper at a community kitchen or garden, street fundraiser, canvasser, volunteer coordinator, event organizer, and many others. In this type of work, you usually get paid less and don’t get to make important organizational decisions. On the other hand, you have powerful impact by interacting with people face-to-face.
Part-time, lower paid roles are often a good starting point to a social change career. They give you the foundational experience you need to go deeper into activist work. They’re worth considering if you’re thinking of professional activism long-term.
3. A freelancer providing services to high-impact organizations
Freelancing can be seen as an intermediary stage between working for someone and running an organization. It allows you to choose how much work you do and for whom. You’re not bound to one organization — which means you can potentially have more impact.
In recent years, many traditionally in-house roles have also been offered in the capacity of an independent contractor. You can work as a freelance communications lead, a consultant, a writer, graphic designer, facilitator, project manager, and many more. In all these roles, you can be an activist — especially if you work for a high-impact organization.
As a freelancer, you can work on different causes throughout your career. At the same time, this path may not grant you the same stability as a full-time job.
4. An artist
Most people don’t consider being an artist a career — and even less so, an activist career. And yet, this is another route you can choose to become a paid activist.
If you have a creative talent such as writing, photography, design, music, crafts, or performing arts— you can use it to create change. There are countless people around the world doing it. In the digital age, online platforms such as Etsy, Shopify, Ditto, and many others allow you to monetize your art.
This route may work better for someone who’s not set on making a full-time income with their activism. Any artist will tell you that making money from creating is tricky. Not only is it harder to sell than other products — art isn’t a top priority expense for most people. It also challenges you to maintain integrity as an artist and not “sell out.”
5. A founder of a business, NGO, or charity
Finally, as an activist you can make a living by starting your own organization. This is probably the most difficult and also the most satisfying path of those listed here.
When you start your own venture, you have a lot of decision-making power. This is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it gives you a lot of freedom by enabling you to be 100% true to yourself and your cause. On the other hand, well… you will have a lot of decisions to make.
Who do you help? What actions do you focus on? Which is the most burning problem, and what can wait until later? This is just a start of the list of questions you’d be dealing with on a daily basis.
One big initial decision would be what kind of organization you want to have. Building a for-profit ethical business has the advantage of allowing you to generate profit and decide what to do with it. At the same time, a non-profit may get external funding more easily. The latter is certainly big help in getting your project off the ground.
Skills & Qualities You’ll Need in a Social Change Career
No matter which of the five paths you pick, there are some skills that will help you in a professional activist role. It’s helpful to know what they are right from the start.
You can study social activism in college or as a masters program. But that’s not the only way to get the necessary skills. The competencies you’ll need on this career path are often acquired outside of formal education and through experience.
The list below certainly isn’t exhaustive. But, it can be your starting point. Use it to brainstorm where and how can you develop these (and similar) skills and qualities?
Relationship skills
If you want to be a professional activist, you’ll need to know how to engage with people. That’s a huge part of your job: being able to communicate your ideas, understanding ideas of other people, and finding middle ground for between them.
Rashad Robinson, the director of Color of Change, points out that activism often happens spontaneously, in everyday interactions with people:
“There are moments that happen in our lives every single day that make us feel angry or sad or happy, and those are organizing moments. They give us the opportunity, if we respond fast enough, to add more people to the movement.”
Recognizing social trends
To drive social change, you need to be aware of what people are already talking about and where their passion is. It’s much easier to build movements on momentum that naturally emerges rather than create it from scratch.
An example of this was the Black Lives Matter movement that took off after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. Even though police brutality wasn’t a new phenomenon, this was the moment when more people than ever acknowledged it. The momentum was there to build a powerful movement.
Leadership and organizing skills
This point may be more important in some activist roles than others. For example, if you choose a role of a project manager or campaign lead, you’ll need to lead more than if you were a freelancer.
But the nature of activism is usually to involve wider community and work with various stakeholders. Being able to lead and organize will always come in handy.
Holding multiple threads in your awareness
Social change is rarely a straightforward, linear process. More often than not, you have to deal with conflicting opinions and social realities. This can sometimes make activism ambiguous, and you need to be ready for that.
A good example from recent years is the Extinction Rebellion. Alongside undeniably great work to raise awareness of the climate emergency, it has been quite openly criticized. Some of the most common objections were around their lack of social inclusion and nonhierarchical structured that caused internal divisions.
This shows how specific activist strategies can have multiple consequences, and that keeping various perspectives in mind is useful.
Seeing the bigger picture
Similarly to holding multiple threads, seeing the bigger picture is a crucial faculty of an activist mind. Many actions appear helpful at first, but can have damaging consequences in the long run.
To know what they might be requires you to relentlessly educate yourself on the issues you’re involved with.
Proactiveness
In most paid activist careers, you can’t afford to wait until others take the lead. Sometimes, you’ll also find yourself in situations where you need to respond immediately, based on your own best knowledge and intuition. To get into a paid activist role will thus require proactiveness and taking matters in your own hands.
Knowing how to care for yourself
Finally, there’s the self-care aspect, crucial for both paid and unpaid activists. You need to let go of the notion of “dying for your cause” — a martyr ethos that most activists have been fed at some point. This isn’t useful. Your cause needs you, so don’t die for it.
Self-care in our culture is a habit that most people have to deliberately learn. This is how Tricia Hersey, the founder of The Nap Ministry and author of Rest is Resistance, put it:
“Treating each other and ourselves with care isn’t a luxury, but an absolute necessity if we’re going to thrive. Resting isn’t an afterthought, but a basic part of being human.”
Additional Resources
Hopefully, by now you have a better idea of what it takes to become a paid activist. You can envision different forms professional activism, as well as assess your motivations for choosing this career path.
However, if you still want more guidance and resources on how to become a paid activist — here they come.
A Career Guide by 80,000 Hours — 80,000 Hours is a nonprofit organization that helps people choose meaningful careers. Their Career Guide is one of the best available resources on this topic.
Effective Activist Zine — An e-book produced by a group of activists who researched most effective activist practices. This is relevant for those who want to step into a social change career, as well “after hours” activists.
Idealist.org — Go here if you’re ready to look for an activist job. The Idealist lists jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities all around the world.
Social Impact Guide — A website listing courses, master programs, scholarships, and other resources that can support a professional activist career.
Activist Handbook — An impressive collection of books, podcasts, blogs, and scientific research meant to support activists.
I hope this article will help you take the next step towards becoming a professional, well-paid, and thriving activist. Feel free to reach out if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions. My email is marta@civlead.org
If you want a fun way to assess what type of activism would suit you best — take our Changemaker Quiz below.
