Change.org Appoints Steve Dziedzic as New President Amid Major Investments in Civic Technology

Change.org has recently made headlines by announcing Steve Dziedzic's appointment as its new President, effective October 23, 2026. Dziedzic, who previously served as the Chief Product Officer since 2024, is set to steer the platform through a significant transitional phase marked by a considerable $100 million investment aimed at boosting the platform's capabilities. This initiative is introducing state-of-the-art, AI-driven petitioning tools designed to enhance user experience and engagement.

In his new role, Dziedzic expresses a strong commitment to fostering democracy and encouraging civic participation. 'I have dedicated my career to creating products that help people mend their relationships; now, my focus shifts to enhancing the relationship between individuals and democracy itself,' he stated. His motivation stems from a personal understanding of the challenges faced by those who feel unheard in the political sphere. Dziedzic aims to ensure that every voice counts by empowering individuals to initiate petitions that can influence decision-makers.

Before his tenure at Change.org, Dziedzic founded Lasting, a popular couples therapy app, demonstrating his ability to make meaningful impacts in technology and mental health. In addition, he served as Chief Product Officer at Talkspace, a company renowned for making mental health services more accessible to millions of individuals.

The transition of leadership comes as Change.org's founder, Ben Rattray, shifts his focus to the Change.org Foundation, which has recently been pivotal in funding various nonpartisan civic tech initiatives. Rattray remains involved with Change.org, and he praised Dziedzic's leadership abilities, stating, 'Steve has rejuvenated the core product of Change.org, making him the perfect candidate to lead us into our next chapter.'

As part of the rollout of new petition tools, Change.org is keen on simplifying the petition creation process, ensuring that stakeholders can easily submit their petitions, connect with politicians, and see tangible outcomes from their efforts. Statistically, 59% of the petitions initiated on the platform are localized, and 62% are categorized as nonpartisan, signifying a broad interest in technical tools that foster organic democratic engagement.

With over 500 million users across 196 countries, Change.org is celebrated as the leading platform for individuals seeking to voice their concerns and advocate for change directly affecting their communities. Dziedzic's focus on integrating innovative civic technologies aligns perfectly with the organization's mission, and this development marks a pivotal step forward in enhancing democratic participation worldwide.

As Change.org steps into this new era, the emphasis on user-centered design and technology promises to break down barriers to civic engagement, potentially revolutionizing how citizens interact with their governments and influence policymaking. The future looks bright for Change.org under Dziedzic's leadership, and the community eagerly looks forward to the impacts these changes will bring to civic engagement on a global scale.

Topics Policy & Public Interest)

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