Powerful change can occur when just one person dares to disagree with authority, dares to go against the crowd, dares to say "No." Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Rachel Carson, Michael Pollan, Colin Campbell, and M. King Hubbert are all contemporary examples, but they draw on the historical precedent of such dissenters as Jesus Christ, Martin Luther, and Galileo. The form of their dissent varied. Not all of them led protests or died for their beliefs. Some simply published the truth. Some refused to step aside. They sparked movements, transformed religions and changed history. Their dissent inspired millions.
rally around things with specific goals. Making people feel like they are a part of something. This starts with a compelling story -- why I should support you -- and then a determination to spread the word.
There is a great concept coined "Empowered Interactivity" by the writer Mark Hughes (from his book BuzzMarketing). Paraphrasing,
"Create a mechanism where people have an observable impact, and it becomes their brand, their 15 minutes of fame, their outcome."
If you already have a large social network, will it help you get funded more quickly? No question. Each person you know is an amplifier to each person they know. We all have a social network, and the key to crowd-funding is sculpting your project and presentation so that it amplifies past that first degree of your network. If it's compelling, people will forward it.