changemaker
Drives systemic transformation
A changemaker is someone who actively works to create positive social change—an activist, innovator, or community organizer who identifies problems and takes initiative to address them.
The term emerged from nonprofit and social entrepreneurship circles: The foundation supports young changemakers tackling climate issues.
It carries an optimistic, empowering tone, though critics find it vague or self-congratulatory.
First to forge ahead
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- leaderOne who guides others
- idealistPursuer of noble principles
- dreamerOne given to fantasies
futurist · catalyst · influencer · champion · reformer · revolutionary · transformer · mentor
Pleading for a cause
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- campaigningActively pursuing political support
- organizingSystematically putting in order
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
protest · petition · lobbying · coalition · movement · demonstration · activism · solidarity
One who starts businesses
- startupNew business enterprise
- disruptorOne who overturns norms
- inventionNew device or method
- breakthroughSudden important advance
prototype · incubator · accelerator · creative · solution · pioneer · technology · scalable
Voluntary aid for others
- donationVoluntary charitable gift
- benefactorOne who gives aid
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- grantBestow or award money
nonprofit · humanitarian · patron · endowment · giving · altruism · generosity · contribution
Thorough change in form
- progressMovement toward improvement
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- inclusionBeing made part
diversity · justice · empowerment · development · measurable · outcomes · legacy · scalability
trailblazer
First to forge ahead
dreamer · futurist · catalyst · influencer · champion · reformer · revolutionary · transformer · mentor · inspiration
advocacy
Pleading for a cause
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- campaigningActively pursuing political support
- organizingSystematically putting in order
mobilization · protest · petition · lobbying · coalition · movement · demonstration · activism · solidarity · resistance
entrepreneur
One who starts businesses
breakthrough · prototype · incubator · accelerator · creative · solution · pioneer · technology · scalable · venture
charity
Voluntary aid for others
- donationVoluntary charitable gift
- benefactorOne who gives aid
- foundationUnderlying support structure
grant · nonprofit · humanitarian · patron · endowment · giving · altruism · generosity · contribution · aid
transformation
Thorough change in form
- progressMovement toward improvement
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
inclusion · diversity · justice · empowerment · development · measurable · outcomes · legacy · scalability · metrics
- Do-goodersdo-gooder, volunteer, activist, humanitarian, philanthropist
- doersdoer, doers, workers, go-getter, makers
- trendsetterstrendsetter, trendsetters, influencer, fashionistas, style icons
- activistsactivist, Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights activists, protester, campaigner
- bigwigsbigwig, big shot, big wig, VIP, big kahuna
- influencersinfluencer, influencers, content creator, PewDiePie, Instagram influencers
changemakerbystander
One who observes nearby
spectator · do-nothing · onlooker · fence-sitter · slacktivist
changemakertraditionalist
Adherent to established customs
conservative · preservationist · reactionary · old guard · stick-in-the-mud
changemakerfollower
One who supports another
nobody · nonentity · bit player · face in the crowd · sheep