Ways Nonprofits Should Develop Activists

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Dr. Terri Lyon is a licensed psychologist, professor, and the author of The Happy Activist. As the creator of the 5-Step Activism Path, she specializes in helping individuals achieve sustainable social change through a skills-based approach. Known as "The Activist for Activists," Terri is a dedicated environmental activist and animal lover who believes activism should motivate you, not drain you.

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Last Updated on April 5, 2026

High-Engagement Organizations Develop Their People

In this post, I encourage you to understand how your volunteer organization should develop you and how you can make sure you get what you need to support your cause.

Joining an existing movement means you have built-in support for your activism work. However, be sure the organization develops you as an activist. Getting people to show up for a protest is activism, of course, but not the type of volunteer engagement that encourages activists to stay with a cause in the long term. Instead, look for organizations that can coax new activists off the sidelines and help them develop.

As part of the 5-Step Activism Path, you find your passion so you can focus on the cause closest to your heart. Then, you identify your gifts; using your skills, knowledge, and motivation means you will have more success and stay motivated.

When you show up to help a movement, what happens? How do organizations put you in the right place to match your skills, knowledge, and motivation?

Hahrie Han is a researcher who helps us understand how to engage people in activism and how to make them more effective. Her book, How Organizations Develop Activists: Civic Associations and Leadership in the 21st Century, is about how organizations make an impact by better engaging activists. Han’s book is a resource for understanding what support you can get from what Han calls “high-engagement chapters”.

Research supports Han. Successful organizations recognize the impact of dedicated, talented people; they ensure activists are engaged at the highest level of skill they possess and for which they feel the most motivated. Furthermore, they continue to nurture activists to even higher levels of skills and engagement.

Volunteer Examples

Examples of ways these organizations will support you include:

strive to build a relationship with you
care about how you see yourself as an activist, and ask you about your goals as a volunteer
help you reinforce your goals and meet your needs
bring you into contact with others, so you have a community around you
provide you with well-designed orientation and training to give you the information you need
get the tools you need
provide you with work that fulfills your needs and motivates you
coach you as you do the work
give you some control over your work
engage you in reflection about the work

Why is Activist Development Important?

Organizations must develop their activists. There are mundane tasks, like making copies. There’s the need to learn the ways the group wants the job done. There is emotional support for facing daunting challenges or re-energizing after working in the cause.

I find that while all of these things matter, what really differentiates the highest-engagement organizations is their ability to engage people in activities and experiences that changed their sense of individual and collective agency. These high-engagement organizations didn’t just try to get more people to do more stuff, they also tried to get people to do things that would transform their interests, their motivations for engaging in further activism, and the skills they needed to do so. Hahrie Han in The Washington Post

Look For These Ways To Develop

1. Ask for Clarity, Not Just Tasks

When you understand the strategy behind your work, your motivation shifts from compliance to commitment.

To help your development, if you are given something to do, consider asking:

What is the broader strategy behind this?
How does this action fit into the long-term plan?
What outcome are we aiming for beyond this event?

These questions are not a challenge to the organization; they are a sign that you are engaged and eager to learn.

2. Ask for Skill Development

Both you and the organization should care about your development. If you find yourself doing the same type of work repeatedly, it may be time to stretch your capacity.

You might ask about these types of volunteer examples:

“I would love to learn how to answer questions from reporters.”
“Will you teach me to handle tough questions from detractors?”
“What would it take for me to take on more responsibility for that event?”

Building new skills gives you a sense of efficacy and purpose, which helps you be more effective and motivated. New skills are also one of the benefits of being a volunteer.

3. Ask for Feedback

Although it may be difficult, ask for feedback about how you are doing. There is extensive research in psychology showing that seeking feedback leads others to view you more positively. (Try it at work, too.)

Personal growth comes from understanding where you can improve. And positive feedback feels good!

Ask:

“What did I do well?”
“Where could I improve?”
“What should I try differently next time?”

4. Ask for Sustainable Pace

Activism needs to fit into your life, and one way to make sure that happens is to set boundaries about when you are available and what you are willing to do. Although that may seem demanding, getting clear up front with the organization means they won’t have to deal with you dropping out to take another volunteer spot elsewhere. Setting boundaries is not stepping back from work. It protects your ability to continue.

You might say:

“I can commit to these hours through the end of the month, but I will need to scale back after.”
“What can I do to support you on Wednesdays?”
“I am willing to organize the occasional event, but I want to make sure most of my volunteer time is working directly with clients.”

5. Ask for Community

Your work should connect you with others for learning, support, and friendship. Having a community around you keeps you engaged, which is one of the benefits of volunteering.

If community is missing, you can help create it. You might suggest:

“Could we schedule informal check-ins?”
“Can we debrief together instead of just moving on?”
“Are there other volunteers who can help me with this task? I want to learn more.”

You will be more satisfied and likely to remain if you have the support and learning provided by a community.

Benefits of Volunteering for Volunteers

In your search for an activism match, look for one that helps you develop your skills and stay engaged. Your compatibility with a volunteer role, how they develop you, and your alignment with their mission lead to satisfaction.

To make your greatest impact, get involved in the high-engagement type of organizations Han describes that provide: