APA Marketplace FAQ

Advocates Paying Advocates (APA) Marketplace

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Last Updated: January 29, 2026 

ABOUT THE MARKETPLACE

What is Advocates Paying Advocates?

The Advocates Paying Advocates Marketplace is the first digital marketplace built specifically for advocates and survivor-leaders supporting adults, children, and youth survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking. Share your training materials, templates, toolkits, training courses, and resources with advocates, leaders, volunteers, educators, businesses, and communities who need them - and earn income doing it.

Our mission: Supported advocates = sustained movement. We're building a communal economy where advocates support one another through knowledge sharing, fair compensation, and economic empowerment.

Who can sell on the APA Marketplace?

The marketplace is designed for anyone working in or supporting violence prevention, survivor services, and advocacy work, including:

• Current advocates and nonprofit staff working in domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, human trafficking, and related fields
• Survivors and survivor-leaders
• Activists and community organizers
• Consultants, trainers, and coaches
• Nonprofit leaders and board members
• Social change professionals and entrepreneurs
• Volunteers, students, and researchers in the field

Who can buy from the APA Marketplace?

Anyone! Buyers don't need an account to browse products. You only need to create a free account to make purchases. Our buyers include:

• Individual advocates seeking professional development resources
• Nonprofit organizations looking for training materials and tools
• Educational institutions teaching advocacy and social change
• Activists building grassroots movements
• Anyone supporting violence prevention and social justice work

What makes APA different from other marketplaces?

APA is explicitly designed for the advocacy movement with several unique features:

• Movement-Aligned: We understand advocate salaries and the realities of nonprofit work
• Peer-to-Peer Economy: Advocates supporting advocates economically and professionally
• Complementary to Grant-Funded Services: We focus on fee-for-service capacity building, NOT grant-funded direct services
• Community-Driven: Built-in community support through The Advocates' Economic Leap and our Guild communities
• Fair Commission Structure: Creators keep 85-90% of sales (industry standard is 50-70%)
• Complete Ecosystem: Multiple income streams through products, consulting, and affiliates

GETTING STARTED AS A SELLER

How do I create a seller account?

1. Visit advocatespayingadvocates.com
2. Click "Become a Creator"
3. Complete your profile information and creator application
4. Wait for account approval (typically 1-2 business days)
5. Connect your Stripe account for payments
6. Choose your membership tier (Free Creator, Pro Creator, or Organization)
7. Start uploading your products!

Is there an application process?

Yes. We review all creator accounts to ensure alignment with our mission and community values. Most applications are approved within 1-2 business days. You will receive an email when your account is approved and you can begin listing products.

What can I sell on the marketplace?

You can sell a wide variety of digital products and services across 32 categories in four strategic pillars:

Pillar 1: Leadership & Organizational Capacity

• Leadership & Career Development
• Fundraising & Financial Sustainability
• Policy Development & Analysis
• Strategic Planning & Program Development
• Board Governance & Engagement
• Communications & Public Awareness
• Technology & Data Analysis

Pillar 2: Peer Support & Frontline Tools

• Self-Care & Burnout Prevention
• Facilitation & Group Support
• Daily Workflow & Job Aids
• Training & Skill-Building

Pillar 3: Enterprise & Business Development

• Consulting & Independent Practice
• Business Operations & Systems
• Marketing & Business Development
• Revenue & Financial Management
• Contracts & Legal Compliance
• Training Product Development
• Funding Innovation & Sustainability (NEW)

Cross-Cutting Categories

• Survivor-Led Solutions
• Youth-Led Initiatives
• Accessibility Resources
• Culturally-Specific Resources
• LGBTQIA+ Resources
• Indigenous Communities
• Housing & Economic Justice
• Military & Veterans
• Health Integration
• Operations & Administration
• Digital Graphics & Design
• Rural Communities
• Faith-Based Resources
• Social Services Integration

What CAN'T I sell on the marketplace?

You cannot sell:

• Physical products (digital-only marketplace)
• Grant-funded direct services (we focus on capacity building, not clinical services)
• Copyrighted materials you don't own or have a license to use
• Services unrelated to advocacy/social change work
• Illegal, harmful, or discriminatory content
• Products that violate our Community Guidelines or Content Moderation Policy
• Materials created with grant funding without proper authorization (see our Grant Funded Materials Policy)

What are the technical requirements for products?

Accepted File Formats:

• Documents: PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX
• Videos: MP4, MOV
• Audio: MP3, WAV
• Archives: ZIP files for bundled resources
• Images: JPG, PNG (for templates, graphics)

File Size Limits:

• Maximum 4GB per file upload

Quality Standards:

• Professional formatting and error-free content
• Clear, actionable information
• Accurate product descriptions
• Preview images or sample pages for buyers

MEMBERSHIP TIERS & PRICING

What are the membership tiers?

APA offers three creator membership tiers with simple annual pricing:

1. FREE CREATOR

• Cost: $0/year (FREE forever)
• Commission: Keep 85% of sales (platform takes 15%)
• Product Limit: 5 products maximum
• Best For: Testing the marketplace, occasional sellers

2. PRO CREATOR - Most Popular

• Cost: $149/year (founding member rate)
• Commission: Keep 88% of sales (platform takes 12%)
• Product Limit: Unlimited products
• Best For: Active individual creators building supplemental income

3. ORGANIZATION

• Cost: $249/year (founding member rate)
• Commission: Keep 90% of sales (platform takes 10%)
• Product Limit: Unlimited products
• Multi-User Access: Unlimited team members
• Best For: Nonprofits, consulting firms, and teams

What's included in the commission structure?

Your commission rate determines how much you keep from each sale:

Tip Jar Bonus: If buyers leave tips at checkout, you keep 100% with NO platform fee!

How do payouts work?

• Payment Processor: Stripe Connect (direct to your bank account)
• Payout Timing: Based on your Stripe account settings (typically 2-7 business days)
• Commission: Automatically calculated and split at time of purchase

When should I upgrade from Free to Pro?

Consider upgrading to Pro Creator ($149/year) when:

• You've hit the 5-product limit on Free tier
• You're earning consistent sales and want better commission rates
• You're serious about building supplemental income from digital products
• You want unlimited product uploads to grow your catalog

Quick Math: The 3% commission difference (88% vs 85%) means you earn an extra $3 on every $100 in sales. At approximately $5,000 in annual sales, the improved commission rate covers the membership cost.

When should I upgrade to the Organization tier?

Consider upgrading to Organization ($249/year) when:

• You have a team creating products together
• You want the best commission rate (90%) to maximize revenue
• Your organization needs multiple user accounts
• You're consistently selling and want the lowest platform fees

UPLOADING & MANAGING PRODUCTS

How do I upload a product?

1. Log into your Creator Dashboard
2. Click "Add New Product"
3. Select your product category
4. Enter product title and descriptions
5. Set your price
6. Upload your product file(s)
7. Add a product thumbnail image (800x800px minimum)
8. Click "Submit for Review"

How do I price my products?

You set your own prices! Here are some guidelines:

Consider your experience level, product depth, and target audience when pricing.

Do products need to be approved?

Yes. All products are reviewed before going live on the marketplace. We check for:

• Relevance to violence prevention/advocacy field
• Quality and completeness of content
• Appropriate pricing
• Compliance with marketplace policies

Most products are approved within 2-3 business days. You will receive an email when your product is approved or if changes are needed.

Can I offer discounts or promotions?

Yes! You can adjust your prices for promotional periods. Contact support if you need help with discount strategies.

How do I edit or update a product after publishing?

Go to your Creator Dashboard, find the product, and click "Edit." You can update descriptions, prices, files, or images anytime. Significant changes may require re-review.

PAYMENTS & EARNINGS

How do I get paid?

All payments are processed through Stripe Connect:

1. Buyer purchases your product
2. Stripe processes the payment securely
3. Your commission is automatically calculated
4. Funds are deposited to your connected bank account

When will I receive my money?

Payout timing depends on your Stripe account settings. Most creators receive payouts within 2-7 business days after a sale.

What about taxes?

You are responsible for reporting your marketplace income to tax authorities. We recommend consulting with a tax professional. Stripe provides tax documents (1099-K) for US creators meeting IRS thresholds.

How do I get help if I have a problem?

Email: support@dawsonvisionaryenterprisesllc.com

Common Support Topics:

• Account and login issues
• Product upload questions
• Payment and payout inquiries
• Refund requests (within 14 days of purchase)
• Technical difficulties

Response Time: Within 48 hours (often faster)

BUYING ON THE MARKETPLACE

How do I purchase a product?

1. Browse or search for products
2. Click on a product to view details
3. Click "Add to Cart"
4. Review your cart and proceed to checkout
5. Add an optional tip for the creator (100% goes to them!)
6. Enter payment information (processed securely via Stripe)
7. Click "Place Order"
8. Download your files immediately

Can I purchase without creating an account?

Yes! Guest checkout is available. Simply provide your email address to receive your download link. However, creating a free account gives you access to your purchase history and easy re-downloads.

What is the refund policy?

Because digital products can be downloaded immediately, we offer refunds only in specific circumstances:

• The product is significantly different from its description
• The files are corrupted or cannot be opened
• You were charged incorrectly

To request a refund, contact support@dawsonvisionaryenterprisesllc.com within 14 days of purchase with your order number and reason.

What is the Tip Jar?

At checkout, you can add an optional tip to show extra appreciation for the creator. 100% of tips go directly to the creator—we take no platform fee on tips!

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & POLICIES

Who owns the products I sell?

You retain full ownership of your intellectual property. By listing on the marketplace, you grant APA a license to display and sell your products, but you maintain all rights to your work.

Can I sell products I created at my job?

It depends. Review your employment agreement and organization policies. Generally:

• Products created on your own time, using your own resources = yours to sell
• Products created during work hours or using employer resources = may belong to employer
• Materials created with grant funding = require authorization (see Grant Funded Materials Policy)

When in doubt, get written permission from your employer.

What if someone copies my product?

We take intellectual property seriously. If you believe your work has been copied:

1. Contact us at copyright@dawsonvisionaryenterprisesllc.com
2. Provide evidence of original ownership
3. We will investigate and take appropriate action under our DMCA policy

ABOUT DAWSON VISIONARY ENTERPRISES

Who runs the APA Marketplace?

APA is operated by Dawson Visionary Enterprises, LLC, a woman-owned business founded by Shawndell Dawson. DVE supports advocates, activists, survivor-leaders, and social change entrepreneurs through three strategic pillars:

1. Leadership & Organizational Capacity (Pillar 1)
2. Peer Support & Frontline Worker Tools (Pillar 2)
3. Enterprise & Business Development (Pillar 3)

How is APA different from grant-funded resources?

Important Distinction: APA focuses on fee-for-service capacity building, NOT grant-funded direct services.

We complement (not compete with) existing resources:

• Grant-funded services - Shelters, rape crisis centers, hotlines, or  direct service resources (free to the field)
• APA Marketplace - Professional development, leadership skills, organizational effectiveness, business development, and digital product creation (fee-for-service)

This creates sustainable income for advocates without extracting from grant dollars meant for survivors and survivor services.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Email: support@advocatespayingadvocates.com  Phone: (301) 615-1620 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM ET

Mailing Address: Dawson Visionary Enterprises, LLC 10770 Columbia Pike #300 Silver Spring, MD 20901

Website: advocatespayingadvocates.com 

Advocates Paying Advocates "Your Mission. Your Financial Future. Both Matter." Supported advocates = sustained movement

Copyright 2026 Dawson Visionary Enterprises, LLC