[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I'd actually love to know the answer to this. I'm sure there's been something that has actually made a difference, but I'd love to know the "success rate." If it's above 1% I'd be floored.

Interesting…

Link: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/36...nges-year.html

Here’s a look at five significant Change.org petitions that worked.

1. A Change.org petition led to the beef industry ditching pink slime.

For years, so-called “pink slime,” officially known as “lean finely textured beef,” bulked up U.S. beef products under the radar. But no longer.

When Texas mom Bettina Siegel started her Change.org petition in 2012 asking the USDA to stop using pink slime in school food, she didn’t even expect to get 1,000 signatures. Nine days and 258,874 signatures later, the USDA agreed to offer schools a pink slime-free option – a decision with lasting ramifications for the beef industry. Beef Products, Inc., the leading U.S. producer of pink slime, claimed the media furor around Siegel’s petition caused it to close three of its four plants and lay off 650 people.

2. A Change.org petition prompted cell phone companies to help domestic violence victims.

When Cynthia Butterworth’s sister escaped from her abusive husband, she needed to cancel their shared cell phone contract so he couldn’t track her phone calls. But when she called Verizon, the company said ending her contract would cost $500 – money she didn’t have.

Finally, after a massive Change.org petition in 2012, Cynthia convinced Verizon to change its policies so domestic abuse victims like Cynthia’s sister could easily cancel their contracts. Then word spread, and another domestic abuse victim, “Jane Doe,” launched her own Change.org petition asking Sprint to follow suit. After the petition gained signatures, Sprint agreed to waive its $200 cancellation fee in cases involving domestic violence victims.

3. A Change.org petition led to Ruth’s Chris Steak House returning PPP funding.

Following news that Ruth’s Chris Steak House and its subsidiaries took $20 million in small business administration (SBA) loans – and that the COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was running out of money for actual small businesses – J. Howard started a Change.org petition demanding the CEO return the borrowed money.

The petition ultimately garnered 262,484 signatures. The 2020 signature campaign led to intense media coverage of Ruth’s Chris Steak House and its borrowings. Eventually, the company returned the funds, freeing up $20 million in funding for worthy small businesses.

4. A Change.org petition led to Comcast postponing data cap charges.

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, parents and students were forced to upend their lives, telecommuting to work and learning from home. But Comcast customers quickly found they were potentially on the hook for new fees aimed at heavy home internet users.

In response, Luiz Lucena started a Change.org petition that quickly gathered almost 70,000 signatures asking the company not to impose a data cap during the pandemic. In February 2021, Comcast ultimately agreed to postpone the new charges until the following July.

5. A Change.org petition saved Taco Bell’s Mexican pizza.

When Taco Bell announced its plans to discontinue the Mexican pizza, outrage ensued. A beloved menu item – and fast-food touchstone for many in the South Asian community – the threat of removing the entree inspired Krish Jagirdar to start a petition demanding the menu item remain.

The petition quickly gained steam and helped to inspire viral moments like Doja Cat writing a song about her love for Taco Bell’s Mexican pizza. After ultimately gaining almost 172,000 signatures, Taco Bell responded in April 2022 that it would bring the Mexican pizza back onto its menu.