It pays VERY WELL for some people.
One minority “Activist” here, back in the 2000’s claimed to have TWENTY-FIVE part-time jobs, all with “Social Justice Organizations” (ACORN, of course).
He claimed a $150,000+ income on a mortgage app.
After it hit the local political blogs, he got visited by the IRS, and later arrested for Tax Fraud.
Obama showed just how far one could ride the “community activism” gravy train - as long as you can read a teleprompter.