America’s most resourced colleges could be engines of upward mobility and positive social change. But for now, they’re broken. Despite their rhetoric of diversity and commitments to the public good, they accept more applicants from the top one percent than the bottom fifty and funnel their students away from public service careers into big tech, finance, and management consulting. Students across the country recognize the need for change and are eager to take action.
That’s where we come in. Class Action is a network of students, alumni and faculty from over 20 institutions challenging “elite” colleges to live up to their missions.
Donations from allies like you allowed us to turn our idea into a national movement. In 2024, we were instrumental in ending legacy admissions in California, invited to speak at the UN General Assembly Roundtable on the Rising Generation, and we hosted a groundbreaking conference with organizers form 18 institutions nationwide.
This year, we've seen significant growth. We quadrupled our full-time team, hosted a conference at Yale Law School for 300 people from 68 institutions and nonprofits, and garnered coverage in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Mother Jones, The Nation, and more…Most importantly, we engaged student organizers on 76 different campuses, laying the foundation for 11 student-led campaigns aimed at holding elite colleges accountable to their public obligations.
To keep this momentum in 2026, we need your help. Only two years after getting started, we're running down-hill and fielding new and exciting opportunities weekly. Your contribution will help us grow our team so we can take advantage of those opportunities.
In this political climate, every dollar counts. “Elite” colleges and universities play a central role in shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Yet, for too long, they have primarily served the privileged few, admitting disproportionately wealthy students and funneling graduates into narrow corporate career tracks. This perpetuates inequality, undermines democracy, and fuels growing public discontent with “elite” institutions. In turn, this contributes to broader distrust in national leadership. At a time when democratic norms are eroding and public faith in institutions is faltering, this issue demands immediate attention.
With your support, we can drive our vision forward, fostering a leadership class that reflects the diversity and values of our democracy.
We’re a lean and scrappy organization. Your tax-deductible donation will directly support the planning and execution of our campaigns to seed chapters on campuses nation wide, end legacy admission, and dismantle corporate career funneling.
Learn more about our work at joinclassaction.us
A photo from our recent conference, "Reimagining Elite Higher Education" at Yale Law School.
Last year, we brought students from 18 institutions -- from Stanford, to UCLA, to Harvard to CUNY -- to Brown University for our first annual conference.
Class Action was instrumental in California's successful ban on legacy admissions. Ryan Cieslikowski, our lead organizer, was one of two expert witnesses called to the California Assembly and Senate to testify on the need for the legislation.
Our growing board.
Our board of advisors includes the renowned philosopher, Peter Singer, the former Chancellor of Vanderbilt University, Nick Zeppos, and more distinguished leaders. Learn more here.
*Class Action is a 501(c)3 Non-profit Organization. Our Federal Tax ID # is 93-3693678. All donations are tax-deductible and no goods or services have been exchanged for this donation.*