The Advocacy Project

What The Advocacy Project does

The Advocacy Project (AP) is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit founded in 1998 that supports marginalized communities through a partner-network model centered on field-based volunteer placements. AP has worked with 118 community-based partner organizations across 14 countries since inception, including Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Palestine, Mali, Afghanistan, Tanzania, the U.S., and Canada. Its core program is the Peace Fellowship, which since 2003 has deployed 344 graduate and high school students as volunteer field support to partner organizations; the 2026 cohort is being recruited from Georgetown, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Tufts, and Boston University among others. A salaried staff of 29 coordinates the fellowship pipeline, partner grants, and communications work.

The organization's product surface combines grantmaking, capacity-building, and storytelling. AP issues small grants to partners ($60,719 to 11 partners in 2025), runs technical support services, and amplifies partner issues through a multilingual blog network and the distinctive Advocacy Quilts program — textile-based narratives exhibited at venues including the Houston International Quilt Festival, GWU Museum, and Cameron Art Museum. A direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel, Southern Stitchers, sells embroidery produced by more than 100 Global South artists. The technology stack is a standard nonprofit configuration: a WordPress website, Constant Contact email marketing, social media, and GlobalGiving for crowdfunding.

The business model is donation- and grant-driven. In 2017, AP received $166,405 from 523 individual donors (778 total donations) and raised $340,369 for partners through crowdfunding. Foundation and corporate support has come from the Foundation for Systemic Change, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, and the Zonta Club of Washington, among others. AP transferred $60,719 to 11 partners in 2025, indicating modest average partner disbursement. Founder Iain Guest transitioned out of the executive director role around 2019, with Karen Delaney assuming day-to-day leadership.

Name

The Advocacy Project

Legal name

The Advocacy Project

Website

https://advocacynet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Advocacy Project is a Washington DC nonprofit that supports 118 community-based organizations across 14 countries through Peace Fellowships, small grants, capacity-building, and storytelling programs including advocacy quilts and the Southern Stitchers marketplace.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Advocacy and Community Development Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Development & Social Impact Programs (EDAIAGAA), Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

Keywords

• Community advocacy support
• Peace fellowship program
• Capacity building services
• Advocacy quilting programs
• Community partner grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: AP depends heavily on individual donors. In 2017, 523 individuals made 778 donations totaling $166,405. This enabled support for 10 start-ups, deployment of nine Fellows, and raising $340,369 for partner organizations.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations like The Foundation for Systemic Change, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Zonta Club of Washington, and others to support specific programs and partner organizations.
3. Crowdfunding Campaigns: Online fundraising appeals through GlobalGiving platform for specific family support, start-ups, and advocacy campaigns (e.g., Agent Orange families, Rohingya refugees, soap-making projects)
4. Advocacy Quilting and Merchandise: Revenue from quilt exhibitions, sales through Southern Stitchers online store, tea towels from Nepal artist designs, and advocacy art that tells stories of marginalized communities

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Advocacy Project is a nonprofit organization that supports marginalized communities in the Global South by deploying graduate student Peace Fellows to assist community-based partner organizations, providing small grants and technical/capacity-building assistance, and amplifying partner voices through advocacy storytelling (including a unique advocacy quilting program and the Southern Stitchers online marketplace for Global South artisans).

Product overview

The Advocacy Project is a nonprofit organization that operates as a programmatic platform supporting marginalized communities in the Global South. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs including the Peace Fellowships Program (which recruits students to support partners), Advocacy Campaigns (addressing issues like child marriage, Agent Orange care, WASH, and climate resilience), Advocacy Quilts (a storytelling and income-generation methodology through textile art), Technical Support Services (capacity building for partners), News Bulletins (communications amplification), and Southern Stitchers (an online store for embroidered goods). The programs work together to help communities tell their stories, strengthen organizations, and mobilize support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Peace Fellowships Program A flagship program that recruits graduate and high school students to serve as Peace Fellows, supporting partner communities in the Global South while gaining international development experience. Fellows work directly with community-based organizations on various initiatives.
• Advocacy Campaigns Initiatives that support marginalized communities in addressing issues such as child marriage, pollution, early marriage, disability rights, and tribal conflict through innovative startup programs and economic empowerment. Includes campaigns like The Worm Ladies of Kibera, Vaccination Heroes, Supporting Agent Orange Caregivers in Vietnam, Installing WASH for girl students in Uganda, and Remembering the Disappeared in Nepal.
• Advocacy Quilts A storytelling methodology that uses textile art to document community experiences, build cross-cultural connections, and produce embroidered items for sale. Includes COVID quilts (e.g., The Arlington COVID Quilt, The COVID Stitch project with 12 quilts assembled by 13 quilters in the US), Sister Artists quilts from Mali, Kenya, and Uganda, the Tiger Bags of Bardiya, and international exhibitions at museums.
• Technical Support Services Services provided to partner organizations including project planning, fundraising support, communications assistance, and capacity building to help communities strengthen their organizations and launch innovative campaigns. AP also provides small grants and seed funding (e.g., $60,719 transferred to 11 partners in 2025; over $700,000 handled by partner Sini Sanuman in Mali).
• News Bulletins Regular news updates and publications that amplify partner messages, document project progress, and share stories from marginalized communities with a global audience. Distributed via the AP website and Constant Contact email subscription.
• Southern Stitchers Online Store An online marketplace selling embroidery and textile products created by artists from partner communities in the Global South (over 100 artists), providing income generation opportunities. Items include embroidered textiles, tea towels from Nepal artist designs, and other artisan works.

Quantifiable outcome

• 118 community-based partners supported since 1998
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization (AHRDO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Telling stories of eight Afghan women who fled Taliban repression. Bobbi Fitzsimmons held training in Canada before Christmas. Embroidered stories to be turned into advocacy quilt.
• Afghanistan Hub of the Global Co-LabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AP contributing to remote learning project for Afghan women and girls offering five virtual classes weekly to 60 women in six provinces. Initial grant provides power banks for students.
• Women Actions for Development (WADS - Tanzania)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AP invested $1,000 in savings and loans scheme for Mama Lishe food sellers in Kigoma. Small loans at 5% rate (one-third market rate). Model to be scaled if sustained income achieved.
• Mother CompostminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AP partner managing food waste collection from Pennsylvania schools. Students manage collection diverted from schools to Mother Compost.
• Jeevan Rekha Parishad (JRP/Lifeline - India)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Empowers tribal women and children against malaria and improves menstrual hygiene in Odisha State. Filled over 6,000 bottles of Neemola mosquito repellent in 2025, distributed 100 mosquito nets, trained girls to make 3,000 sanitary pads.
• Women in Action for Women (WAW - Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020GBV survivors building sustainable tailoring business in Gulu. Purchased sewing machines through Sister Artists quilt auction. Three team members made and sold dresses by June 2026.
• Kangemi Advocacy Self-Help Group (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partner in Nairobi that helped secure vaccinations during COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteers distributed campaign materials and flyers.
• Subornogram Foundation (Bangladesh)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partner in Narayanganj, Bangladesh. Secured vaccinations for River Gypsies and marginalized communities. Peace Fellow Evan Cranmer helped expand Mayadip community feeding kitchen.
• Shield of Faith (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Association of single mothers in Nairobi's Kibera settlement composting food waste and growing organic vegetables. Partnership began in 2019 with embroidery training. In 2024 composted 5.5 tons of food waste. Stella Makena is Co-founder and Program Coordinator.
• Kenya Quilt GuildcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Gill Rebelo was founder member in 1997. Active in Committee for over 20 years. Also co-founder of Kenya Embroiderers' Guild. Leading training for women to make quilts for UNFPA Summit.
• Rohingya Education And Advocacy League (REAL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Association of Rohingya refugees from Rakhine State in Burma. Growing vegetables in Jamtoli refugee camp for 40 families. Coordinator Maung Myint Swe documents project through blogs. Technical advice from Shield of Faith on kitchen gardens.
• Children Peace Initiative Kenya (CPIK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Organizes peace camps for pastoralist children in Northwest Kenya to ease tensions between warring tribes. AP partner since 2015. Organized cow camps for 784 warrior-herders in 2025 to address climate change and drought.
• Women Advocacy Project (WAP - Zimbabwe)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Helps girls in under-served neighborhoods of Harare resist early marriage by earning money from soap. Clean Girl soap program attracted over $100,000 in donor support. Has put 38 soap-makers in school including Tatenda Mukanya.
• Network of Families of the Disappeared (NEFAD - Nepal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Supports families of disappeared during Nepal's 1996-2006 armed conflict. AP supported since 2015 through quilts, bulletins, economic empowerment and UN appeals. Helped develop new academic center at Kathmandu University for survivors.
• Backward Society Education (BASE - Nepal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Works to end child marriage and caste discrimination in central Nepal. Sunita Chidimar, a member of the Chidimar sub-caste, leads advocacy after being betrothed at age 5 and married at 14.
• Palestinian House of FriendshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Long-time partner in Nablus, West Bank. Expanding olive tree production for Palestinian farmers. Six volunteers helped plant 25 trees on December 16 with AP seed money.
• Sini Sanuman (Mali)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partner in Mali handling significant grant money. Sitan Konate filed over 4,000 receipts and handled over $700,000 of grant money with strong reporting over five years of AP partnership.
• Association for the Empowerment of People with Disabilities (AEPD - Vietnam)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Led by veterans who themselves recovered from war wounds. Supports families poisoned by Agent Orange in Quang Binh province. AP has raised over $30,000 for 15 affected families since 2015 and deployed 13 Peace Fellows.
• Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU - Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008AP partner since 2008. Installed toilets and handwashing at 7 primary schools serving 4,672 students. Added malaria and menstrual health to WASH trainings in 2025. Joe Okwir is Field Officer monitoring WASH program.
• BOSFAM (Bosnian Family)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998Association of women who lost relatives in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. One of AP's earliest partners since 1998. Sarah Reichenbach was one of 15 Fellows who worked with BOSFAM at the massacre site.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GlobalGiving: GlobalGiving is a crowdfunding platform that AP explicitly uses for fundraising campaigns. It serves as the donation infrastructure for nonprofits in the Global South, making it a direct functional peer for AP's partner-facing fundraising arm.
• Idealist (Action Without Borders): Idealist is a nonprofit job/volunteer matching platform that connects individuals with opportunities in the social impact sector, parallel to AP's Peace Fellow recruitment and internship program.
• WITNESS: WITNESS trains activists to use video for human rights advocacy, mirroring AP's use of multimedia storytelling, video production, and blogs to amplify partner voices.
• Thousand Currents (formerly IDEX): Thousand Currents funds grassroots community organizations in the Global South, similar to AP's model of seed funding partner startups and supporting marginalized communities directly.
• Fund for Global Human Rights: Fund for Global Human Rights provides grants and capacity building to frontline human rights organizations in the Global South, directly parallel to AP's small-grants-plus-Fellow-support model for community-based advocacy partners.
• Peace Direct: Peace Direct supports local peacebuilders in conflict-affected countries, similar to AP's community-based partner model. It shares AP's focus on grassroots partner capacity-building in the Global South and uses volunteer placement.
• Nonviolent Peaceforce: Nonviolent Peaceforce deploys volunteers to conflict zones to protect civilians and support local peace organizations, overlapping with AP's Peace Fellowship model and its work with partners like Children Peace Initiative Kenya.

Broad incumbents

• Search for Common Ground: Search for Common Ground is a major international peacebuilding NGO that works in many overlapping geographies with AP (Kenya, Nepal, Mali, Zimbabwe) and uses community-led peace methodologies similar to AP's partner model.
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP): USIP is a large established peacebuilding institution that works in many of the same conflict-affected countries as AP (Afghanistan, Nepal, Mali). It provides grants and training programs overlapping with AP's peace and human rights work but at a much larger scale.

Emerging players

• ARTICLE 22: ARTICLE 22 transforms bombies (unexploded ordnance) into jewelry, employing Laotian artisans. 2026 Peace Fellow Kendall Siwonuk is General Manager. This is a smaller, more commercial player that intersects with AP's advocacy art and Agent Orange/Legacies of War work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=1DM2SEbY4eM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-advocacy-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Advocacy Project