Petition guides for each major cause: Get started

Over 100,000 petitions have achieved victories on Change.org over the years across 196 countries. Yours could be the next one to push for change and increase awareness of the issues that matter.

Whether you want to change a local school policy, fight for reproductive rights, defend LGBTQ+ communities, or help protect the planet, Change.org has the tools, resources, and tailored guides to help you every step of the way. 

Our petition guides have already supported many change-makers in turning frustration into action. Now you can find them all in one place.

This is your one-stop resource to learn how to start a petition on some of the largest issues facing local, national, and global communities today. Each section below links to a more detailed guide designed to meet the unique needs of your cause.

How to start a petition: The basics

No matter what issue you’re tackling, the basic structure of a successful petition will have a few core elements. Below are eight key steps to follow when starting your campaign.

Our cause-specific guides go deeper with examples, data, and insights for each category. 

Define a clear, specific goal

Instead of a petition to “fix healthcare in the U.S.,” try a more concise goal, such as “require Medicaid to cover [insert treatment] in [insert state]”, for example. The more specific your goal, the easier (and more likely) it is for supporters and decision makers to get on board.

Identify the right decision maker

Pick someone who has the power to make the change you want to see happen. This could be a school superintendent, a state lawmaker, a CEO, or a government agency, for example.

Use a powerful personal story

Real stories move people to act. Whether it is your experience or someone else’s, grounding your petition in a human story helps build empathy.

Add supporting facts and data

Statistics, research, and expert quotes give your petition credibility. Each of the guides below will point you in the direction of reputable sources that can be useful for gathering data. Strong evidence helps supporters and the media understand the problem and the stakes.

Create and publish your petition

Use Change.org’s easy-to-use (and free!) petition creation platform to publish your campaign and make it public. We even have an AI writing assistant that can help you write it!

Share and promote

Post your petition on social media, send it to friends, and ask local organizations to share it. The more people see it, the more likely it is to succeed. We provide ready-to-share social media posts to make it easy. 

Reach out to the decision maker

Use email, phone calls, and social media to get your petition in front of the people in power. Tag them, message them, and follow up with a call or letter.

Keep supporters engaged

Using petition updates, you can easily keep supporters in the loop about new developments, wins, in-person events, and requests for further action. This keeps your momentum going and builds community.

Tailored guides for starting a petition on individual issues

Here are specific guides for some of the most pressing petition categories on Change.org.

Environmental petitions

Find the full guide here: How to start an environmental petition

This guide will help you take on issues like pollution, local environmental threats, or recycling problems, and includes real petitions that have gone on to achieve victories. For example, a Change.org petition pushed Amazon to stop using plastic air pillows in its packaging.

Whether you’re fighting an oil pipeline or pushing for composting in your school district, you’ll find tips on targeting the right agencies, using supporting environmental data, and finding supporters who care. 

LGBTQ+ rights petitions

Find the full guide here: How to start an LGBTQ+ rights petition

This guide is designed for advocating for equality, safety, and visibility for LGBTQ+ communities. Discover campaigns that led to policy updates and legal protections. Learn how to frame your petition for the most impact, including reputable data sources to cite and finding expert opinions to support your cause.

You’ll also find examples of some of the most prevalent issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community, such as gender-affirming healthcare access and the fight for anti-discrimination laws.

Animal rights petitions

Find the full guide here: How to start an animal rights petition

From banning puppy mills to stopping cruel lab testing, this guide is your go-to if you want to start an animal rights petition. 

It includes examples of animal rights petitions that have succeeded you can learn from, like a petition that led to the inclusion of rabbit fur in the California fur ban. It will give you ideas of how to target and share your petition as well as clear steps on creating it from start to finish. 

Healthcare reform petitions

Find the full guide here: How to start a healthcare reform petition

Healthcare is one of the top issues moving people to start petitions in the United States. This guide offers help for campaigners focused on medical coverage, maternal care, mental health services, and more health concerns. 

Find inspiration in the examples of successful heathcare petitions, ideas on how to mobilize supporters to help, and resources to help you research the issue.

Criminal justice petitions

Find the full guide here: How to start a criminal justice petition

Advocating for fair sentencing, police accountability, or prison reform? This is your guide. Learn how to gather community stories, use media coverage, and push for systemic change. It’s full of tips on how to grow your impact, such as organizing in-person actions to boost momentum.

There are many criminal justice petitions to learn from that have resulted in powerful change and visibility. In fact, the petition asking for justice after the murder of George Floyd became one of the most signed petitions in history.

Women’s rights petitions

Find the full guide here: How to start a women’s rights petition

This is your guide if you are fighting for reproductive rights, gender equity, and protection from gender violence, to name a few. Learn about some of the most common and pressing issues to tackle, and successful petitions that have changed policies in companies and schools, increased safety for women, and more.

School petitions

Find the full guide here: How to start a school petition

Whether you’re a student, parent, legal guardian, or teacher, this guide will help you advocate for change in your local school. From updating the curriculum to phone and dress code policies, you’ll find step-by-step instructions to raise your issue to the people who can respond to your concerns.

HOA petitions

Find the full guide here: How to start an HOA petition

Frustrated with your homeowners association? This guide shows you how to petition for rule changes, transparency, and better governance. It includes advice on rallying other homeowners and being prepared for rebuttals.

Start a petition today for what you care about most

Change.org has helped people all around the world push for progress. Your petition could be next. With this hub of resources and Change.org’s free tools, you don’t need to start from scratch or figure it out alone. 

Whether you’re passionate about justice, the planet, or your own community, we have a guide – and a platform! – to help you succeed. 

These guides aren’t just tutorials, they’re roadmaps built from real victories seen on Change.org. They’re here to help you write, share, and achieve a win for your petition, one signature at a time.  Ready to get started? Begin your petition today.