How to start a petition
Table of Contents
Starting a petition on Change.org is free and takes just a few minutes. Change.org will guide you through the process step by step, helping you create a compelling petition that can make a real difference. This guide walks you through the petition creation process with screenshots.
How to create a petition on Change.org
To start your petition, go to https://www.change.org/start-a-petition or click the "Start a petition" button in the top-right corner of the Change.org homepage.
Step 1: Describe your issue
Change.org will first ask you to describe the issue you want to address. Click "Continue" to proceed through the introduction screen.
Enter a brief description of the problem you want to solve. In the "I want to..." field, type a short summary of your cause.
Step 2: Choose your petition approach
Based on your description, Change.org may suggest existing petitions you can support. You have two options:
● Use Change.org AI assistance (default) - Change.org will use AI features to help you draft your petition based on your description. This is the default option and guides you through creating an effective petition with AI-generated suggestions for your title and content.
● Write your own manually - Select "Write your own" to skip the AI assistance and go directly to the screen where you fill in the title and petition text yourself. This gives you complete control over your petition content from the start.
Step 3: Write your petition title and description
This is the most important step. You will enter your petition title and write the story explaining your cause.
Tips for an effective petition title
● Keep it short and focused - Name a solution rather than just stating the problem
● Be specific - Clearly identify what change you want to see
● Make it compelling - Use action-oriented language
Tips for your petition story
● Keep your story length between 150-400 words for best results - Shorter, focused stories tend to perform better and are more likely to be read completely
● Explain why you care - Personal stories resonate with potential supporters
● Describe the impact - Explain what change would mean for those affected
● Add a compelling image - Petitions with images have significantly higher success rates. Choose a relevant, high-quality image that illustrates your cause
Step 4: Define the scope of your petition
Choose whether your petition addresses a Local, National, or Global issue. If you select Local or National, you will be prompted to enter a specific location. This option does not affect petition visibility and can be changed afterwards.
Step 5: Review and create your petition
Review your petition details on the summary page. When you are ready, click "Create Petition" to publish it.
After creating your petition, Change.org will guide you through optional steps to share it with others and gather signatures.
When your petition appears in Change.org search
Your petition needs a minimum of 5 signatures to appear in Change.org search results. Until your petition reaches 5 signatures, only people with the direct link can find and sign it. This is an important milestone for new petition starters to work toward.
Adding decision makers to your petition
Decision makers are the people or organizations who have the power to make the change you are requesting. When adding decision makers to your Change.org petition:
● Keep decision makers under 10 for best results - Adding more than 10 decision makers can cause issues with the platform
● Choose decision makers who can actually make the change you are requesting
● Be specific about who you are targeting
Adding decision makers is optional. However, we recommend you to do so since it increases the likelihood of your petition succeeding.
Prohibited content in petitions
Important: Any personally identifiable information (PII) is prohibited in Change.org petitions. This may include:
● Bank account information
● IBAN numbers
● PayPal addresses
● Venmo usernames
● Personal email addresses
● Phone numbers
Change.org is not a crowdfunding platform. If you need to raise money for your cause, use certified external fundraising platforms such as GoFundMe. Make sure to use reputed platforms that ensure that donations made reach you safely.
After you publish your petition
Once your petition is live on Change.org, you can:
● Edit your petition - You can update the title, description, and images at any time
● Share your petition - Share on social media, via email, or create a custom URL
● Post updates - Keep your supporters engaged with progress updates
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between AI-assisted and manual petition creation?
The default AI-assisted option uses Change.org AI features to help draft your petition based on your description, providing suggestions for your title and content. If you prefer complete control, select "Write your own" to go directly to a blank form where you fill in the title and petition text yourself without AI suggestions.
Can I edit my petition after I publish it?
Yes, you can edit your Change.org petition at any time. You can update the title, description, images, and decision makers. Go to your petition dashboard and click the edit option, or add "/edit" to the end of your petition URL. Keep in mind that petition changes are meant to improve your petition. Misleading existing supporters and signers by completely changing your petition may result in your petition being removed.