Social Advocacy Organizations NAICS 8133
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Industry Summary
The 17,900 social advocacy organizations in the US promote social, environmental, and political causes, such as human rights, the environment and wildlife, and community issues. Organizations charge fees for services, solicit contributions, and sell memberships. Sources of revenue include programming services; government and private contributions, gifts, and grants; and investments. Social advocacy organizations work to create social change that will accomplish a specific goal that benefits a constituency.
Dependence on Government Funding
Some social advocacy organizations, especially groups with revenue of less than $1 million, depend on government grants and contracts to fund programming.
Competition for Funding
Social advocacy groups compete for attention and funding with other nonprofits and charitable causes, including religious organizations; civic, social, and professional organizations; business associations; and political groups.
Recent Developments
Nov 7, 2025 - New Rules Restrict Participation In Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- The US Department of Education (DoE) has finalized restrictions on public service loan forgiveness that could stop some nonprofits and public service organizations like social advocacy organizations from participating in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, according to Alabama Media Group. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program forgives the remaining balance on federal Direct Loans for borrowers who make 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer. Qualifying employers include government organizations and non-profit organizations. A specific list of ineligible organizations has not been published, but restrictions include “supporting terrorism” or harboring undocumented immigrants, according to a DoE news release. At least a dozen states are suing to remove these restrictions.
- Billionaires have publicly donated or pledged to give about $185 billion since 2015, according to Altrata, according to the Wall Street Journal. Top causes include education and medical research. Billionaires gave $90 billion to those two in the past 10 years. One of the most popular recipients outside of education and medical research is the Central Park Conservancy in New York, which received donations from 89 billionaires worth about $100 million. Johns Hopkins University received $7.5 billion from close to 30 billionaires, but most of it came from Michael Bloomberg, who gave more than $5 billion.
- President Trump signed an executive order requiring all agencies to review grants and contracts for wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse. Some social advocacy organizations, especially groups with revenue of less than $1 million, depend on government grants and contracts to fund programming. The order also directed agency leaders to build a payment and contract recording system alongside employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Teams of DOGE personnel have been assigned to each agency to develop the system, which will be used to review and justify all expenditures made by employees.
- Social advocacy industry employment and average wages for nonsupervisory employment increased slightly increased slightly during the first seven months of 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Social advocacy industry revenue is forecast to increase at a 2.26% compounded annual rate from 2025 to 2029, slower than the growth of the overall economy, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. Social advocacy organizations generate revenue through fees and contracts for programming and services and contributions, gifts, and grants from public and private sources.
Industry Revenue
Social Advocacy Organizations
Industry Structure
Industry size & Structure
The average social advocacy organization operates out of a single location, employs about 16 workers, and generates $3 million annually.
- The social advocacy industry consists of about 17,900 organizations that employ over 264,800 workers and generate about $51 billion annually.
- The total industry is concentrated at the top and fragmented at the bottom; the top 50 organizations account for about 40% of industry revenue. Within the human rights segment, the top 50 organizations account for almost 70% of revenue.
- Environmental, conservation, and wildlife organizations account for over 40% of firms and 37% of industry revenue. Human rights groups account for 18% of firms and almost 30% of industry revenue.
- Large organizations include the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Greenpeace, and Habitat for Humanity.
Industry Forecast
Industry Forecast
Social Advocacy Organizations Industry Growth
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