I think one depressing example is innovation in weapons and other dangerous fields. "If we don't build it, someone else will first" is unfortunately historically been shown to be true, has it not?
Today's unsavory borderline reactionary doomposting brought to you by: my crippling fear that I'm isolating myself in a political echo-chamber (so naturally I gotta hop online and exclusively ask my fellow leftists)
They organize and put in work. Landlords and small business ghouls are always part of some organization, or email blast, or chamber of commerce, etc. Sometimes they need to show up to meetings and do what they're told to do (i.e. support X bill or donate to Y cause). And they will because the benefits they receive are worth the expense.
Usually though thats because they have enough cash to make it several peoples full time jobs.
I don't disagree buts that's sort of avoiding the point. There are endless examples of large groups of non unionized workers who could collect their money and pay someone (a union rep) a full time salary to support and advance their interests. They have the cash but they still don't execute for a variety of other reasons.
It's not just access to money and cash.