Activism Industry

The activism industry consists of organizations and individuals engaged in activism, defined as involvement in action for the purposes of bringing about change on a funded or contract basis. Activism is often undertaken in a "full-time" capacity, whereby organizations and individuals formally classify the activity as "core business". The number of organizations who employ people to perform this work is sufficiently large, hence why "activism" is now a job classification. Movements across the political spectrum can be described as activist in nature.

Many organizations whose primary activity is activism may be defined as being nonprofit organizations or non-governmental organizations. Most activist organizations do no manufacturing of goods.

The term "activism industry" has often been used to refer to the practice of outsourcing canvassing fundraising operations. However, activist organizations engage in other activities as well. Lobbying, or the influencing of decisions made by government, is another activist tactic. Many groups have designated staff assigned specifically for lobbying purposes. In the United States, lobbying is regulated by the federal government.