What Stand Up for Science does

Stand Up for Science is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit advocacy organization founded in February 2025 by Emory University clinical psychologist Colette Delawalla in response to Trump Administration cuts to federal science agencies, censorship of research, and attacks on public health institutions. The organization operates as both a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization and a parallel 501(c)(3) charitable foundation (the Stand Up for Science Foundation), with a 15+ person paid staff supported by thousands of volunteer activists organized into SUFS locals across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Its mission is to defend scientific integrity, peer-reviewed research funding, and evidence-based policymaking through grassroots mobilization, congressional lobbying, public-comment campaigns, and national days of action.

The organization's product surface is a set of advocacy tools rather than a traditional software stack. The primary digital platform is standupforscience.net, an Action Network-powered action center that enables supporters to sign petitions, submit public comments, contact Members of Congress using provided scripts, and register for rallies. Supporting offerings include a microflyering resource library (downloadable posters and flyers for public distribution), an online merchandise shop that doubles as a fundraising channel, a volunteer engagement program called Science Fight Club, and a petitions platform supporting initiatives such as the impeachment of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The organization does not develop proprietary technology; campaign infrastructure runs on third-party platforms including Action Network and qgiv for donations.

The business model is donation-driven. Revenue comes from individual contributions, merchandise sales, and any grants routed through the affiliated 501(c)(3) foundation; there are no product sales, subscriptions, or service fees. Go-to-market is community-led grassroots organizing, amplified through social media (Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn), email, press coverage, rallies, and congressional contact campaigns. Customer segments are scientists and health professionals (primary), students, community advocates, and STEM workers — all mobilized as volunteer participants rather than purchasers. The organization has rapidly scaled operationally, mobilizing over 50,000 people at 170+ events worldwide on its first National Day of Action in March 2025 and expanding to 48–53 rally locations for the March 2026 Rally to Take Back Science, supported by a coalition of 30+ partner organizations including AAUP, Public Citizen, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Protect Democracy, and a Science Advisory Board including Nobel laureates.

Name

Stand Up for Science

Legal name

Stand Up for Science

Website

https://standupforscience.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stand Up for Science is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in February 2025 that mobilizes scientists, students, and community advocates through rallies, petitions, congressional lobbying, and public-comment campaigns to defend federal science funding and scientific integrity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Science advocacy
• Grassroots organizing
• Public health advocacy
• Political activism
• Civic mobilization

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization and 501(c)(3) charitable organization, Stand Up for Science raises funds through donations from supporters. The organization collects public comments, organizes rallies, and conducts advocacy campaigns without generating revenue from products or services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stand Up for Science is a nonprofit advocacy organization that mobilizes scientists, health professionals, students, and community advocates to defend scientific integrity and U.S. federal science funding against political interference. It coordinates grassroots activism through local chapters (SUFS locals), national days of action, rallies, petitions, congressional contact campaigns, and public comment drives. The organization provides free advocacy resources, microflyers, action scripts, and event organizing tools to supporters.

Product overview

Stand Up for Science is a grassroots political activism organization, not a traditional software product company. The organization offers a suite of advocacy tools and resources including its primary website hub (standupforscience.net), an Action Center for grassroots activism (petitions, contact Congress scripts, public comment tools, rally organizing), downloadable microflyering resources (posters and flyers with pro-science messaging), and a merchandise shop. The organization operates as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization and is affiliated with the Stand Up for Science Foundation (501(c)(3)). The organization's core 'product' is its activism platform combining grassroots organizing tools, messaging campaigns, congressional lobbying, and public demonstrations to fight for science and democracy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stand Up for Science Website Primary digital platform at standupforscience.net serving as the central hub for activism efforts, providing information about campaigns, take action resources, blog/news updates, merchandise shop, press information, and donation capabilities for supporters and the general public.
• Action Center / Take Action Hub Campaign action platform enabling supporters to sign petitions, contact Members of Congress using provided scripts, submit public comments, attend rallies, and participate in various grassroots activism activities. Targeted at individual supporters, scientists, and concerned citizens.
• Merch Shop Online store offering merchandise with pro-science messaging as a fundraising mechanism, with tagline 'Give the gift of science'. Targeted at supporters and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly half of approximately 10,000 NIH-funded clinical trials could be discontinued under the OMB grant-control rule, affecting over 1,000 cancer trials, hundreds of pediatric studies, and trials on veterans, suicide, heart disease, and diabetes (per Stand Up for Science analysis)

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AAUP (American Association of University Professors)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Partner organization supporting the Rally to Take Back Science on March 7, 2026, advocating for scientific integrity and democratic accountability in science policy.
• Public CitizencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Consumer advocacy group partner supporting Stand Up for Science's national day of action and science advocacy campaigns.
• Union of Concerned ScientistscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Science advocacy organization partnering with Stand Up for Science for the Rally to Take Back Science, focused on ending political interference in scientific research.
• Protect DemocracyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Democracy defense organization providing support networks and resources for scientists facing retaliation for speaking out against authoritarian threats.
• Over 30 Additional Advocacy GroupsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Additional partner organizations supporting the Rally to Take Back Science nationwide day of action on March 7, 2026.
• Protect DemocracyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2025Partner organization cited as providing support networks, bridge funding, and educational resources to help scientists defend scientific independence.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Center for American Progress: Large progressive policy think tank and advocacy organization. Less rally-driven than SUFS, but operates in the same federal-policy advocacy space, particularly on science, public health, and democracy issues.
• Greenpeace USA: Major environmental advocacy nonprofit with a confrontational, rally-driven approach to defending science-based policy. Shares SUFS's willingness to use public demonstrations and direct political confrontation.
• Sierra Club: Large, established environmental advocacy organization with multi-million-member base and decades of grassroots infrastructure. Overlaps with SUFS on climate-science defense and broader environmental advocacy, though Sierra Club's portfolio is far wider.

Direct peers

• Protect Democracy: Nonpartisan democracy-defense organization focused on preventing authoritarian abuse of executive power. A confirmed SUFS partner; both groups coordinate support for public servants and scientists facing political retaliation.
• Union of Concerned Scientists: Long-established science advocacy nonprofit that combines scientific analysis with public campaigns to influence federal science policy. Directly comparable to SUFS in mission (defending scientific integrity, opposing political interference in research) and audience (scientists, policymakers, public).
• March for Science: Grassroots science-advocacy movement launched in 2017 with large national marches defending evidence-based policymaking. Direct predecessor-style peer — same mission framing, similar rally-driven mobilization model.
• American Association of University Professors (AAUP): Higher-ed advocacy organization defending academic freedom and faculty governance — closely aligned with SUFS on defending peer review and opposing political interference in research. AAUP is a confirmed SUFS coalition partner.
• Public Citizen: National consumer and public-interest advocacy organization with active lobbying and grassroots mobilization arms. SUFS partners with Public Citizen on the Rally to Take Back Science; both run congressional contact campaigns, petitions, and public demonstrations on science/health-adjacent issues.
• 314 Action: Political action organization mobilizing scientists and STEM professionals to run for office and engage in electoral advocacy. Comparable grassroots model and similar target audience (STEM workers, scientists) to SUFS.

Emerging players

• Earthworks: Environmental and public-interest advocacy nonprofit using grassroots campaigns, policy advocacy, and media work to address extractive industry impacts. Comparable organizing model (volunteer-led campaigns, public comment drives) to SUFS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/standup-for-science
• Instagraminstagram.com/standupforscience
• Xx.com/standupforscibe
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stand Up for Science