Press

FAQs and Helpful Information

What kinds of stories can I source on Change.org?

Thousands of petitions are started every day on Change.org, on a wide range of issues - from the local (e.g., two Indiana moms’ fight for federally-enforced anti-bullying legislation to the national (e.g. a 15-year old Mississippi teenager urging PepsiCo to remove flame retardant chemicals from its energy drink products).

How can I use Change.org to source stories?

Email us at press@change.org to source stories in four key ways:

1. Receive first-look updates on top trending petitions by subscribing to our VIP journalist email list.

2. Find a spokesperson. If you’re looking for someone to comment on a hot issue, we’ll scan through the hundreds of petitions around that topic and find you the perfect person.

3. Speak with our CEO Ben Rattray (one of Time’s 100 most influential people) and President & COO Jen Dulski, both experts on people power, how technology is changing the experience of civic engagement, and corporate accountability.

4. Connect with our world-class campaigns team, featuring experts on everything from health policy to immigration. Our team members can speak broadly about the social activism trends we’re seeing on Change.org.

I have written an article mentioning a petition on Change.org, can I share it with the signers of the petition?

When an article mentioning a petition on Change.org hyperlinks back to the original petition page, there is a chance that the article will be shared as a petition update sent to all the petition signers. Linking back to Change.org petitions are a great way to drive traffic to your article, while also amplifying exposure for the cause at hand.

How can I find a petition on a given topic?

If you’re in a time crunch, enter relevant keywords into our search bar and review the results. If you have slightly more time, email press@change.org with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get you what you need!

How big do Change.org petitions get?

The vast majority of petitions are local or niche and don’t require a high number of signatures to win. The top 0.05% of petitions have thousands (sometimes hundreds of thousands, of signatures, with a few reaching several million signatures.

Who is the average petition starter?

There is no average petition starter on Change.org. Generally, petitions starters are reflective of the US population: all ethnicities, backgrounds and ages, from young children (who start petitions in partnership with their parents) to older adults. 

Who uses Change.org?

• Petition starters and supporters: more than 100 million people in 196 countries are creating change in their communities.

• Decision makers: decision makers at the highest levels of government and business are engaging with their constituents and consumers.

• Organizations: more than 100,000 organizations are advancing their causes and connecting with new supporters.

• Media: journalists are sourcing powerful stories and covering campaigns hundreds of times a day.

Change.org in the media

• Fast Co.EXIST: How Change.org measures its massive impact

• Fast Company: How Ben Rattray's Change.org Became A Viral Consumer Watchdog

• Fast Company: What makes for a winning change.org petition?

• Huffington Post: Ten internet petitions that helped the little guy beat the system

• New York Times: After Recess: Change the World

• NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams: Change.org empowers people to petition corporations and elected officials

• Stanford Social Innovation Review: From Petitions to Decisions

• Time: Change Agent

• Time: Behold the Power of #Hashtag Feminism

• Wired: Meet Change.org, the Google of modern politics

The Change.org communications team

• Shareeza Bhola (New York)

• Communications Manager
  Twitter: @ShareezaBhola
  LinkedIn: shareezabhola
  Contact Shareeza if you’d like to speak to a Change.org petition starter or if you have any questions about a petition on the site.

• Eva Arevuo (San Francisco)
  Communications Manager
  Twitter: @evaarevuo
  LinkedIn: evaarevuo
  Please contact Eva if you’re based in San Francisco, and/or have general questions about Change.org, and questions, requests, or speaking invitations for a member of Change.org’s leadership team, including Founder & CEO Ben Rattray, and President & COO Jennifer Dulski.

• Max Burns (Washington, D.C.)
  Communications Manager
  Twitter: @themaxburns
  LinkedIn: mburns87
  Please contact Max if you are based in Washington, D.C., have questions about political engagement on Change.org, are interested in reaching a petition starter or have general questions about Change.org's Washington, D.C. office.