most social reformers founded a society or formed an association through which they carried out the reforms.Why did they form associations and societies? Could they have not reformed the society single-handedly?
To be able to have brought around a reform at that time it was necessary to be backed by a lot of people speacially the powerful ones because people at that time did not easily welcome changes in the practices followed by them at that time. Forming an association made it very helpful as there were many people who were a part of your association and if they were influential in the society, it would be very helpful for the cause you were supporting.