From Family to Philanthropy: 15+ Years of Transformative Impact With RaiseRight

When Margaret Burgdorf first got involved with RaiseRight, she never imagined she'd still use it 15 years later for an entirely new mission. 

Over the years, RaiseRight enabled Margaret to fund her children’s activities and memories—everything from horse camp to Boy Scouts. 

And that was just the beginning.

RaiseRight unlocked a tool of community transformation for Margaret—one that uplifts organizations to fund real change. Today, she’s a RaiseRight program coordinator and co-partner for Underpants for All (UFA), a nonprofit that distributes new underwear to charities, missions, disaster victims, and others in need. 

Margaret's beginnings with RaiseRight

When Margaret's two children were young, they, like many kids, were eager to join clubs and activities—opportunities that come with a cost. Upon joining American Heritage Girls (AHG) in 2009, her daughter was eager to attend summer camp. However, with a tight budget, Margaret was unsure how to make it happen. Fortunately, the AHG troop had a RaiseRight program, which Margaret quickly embraced to help fund her daughter’s camp experience.

Margaret's daughter attending her first AHG event

The program allowed Margaret to continue earning for years, funding special moments like sending her daughter to a horse camp. "When my daughter found out she could go, her reaction was priceless. We were all so happy for her," she says. "It makes me tear up, even thinking about it now." Margaret even raised enough money to attend the camp as a chaperone, sharing the experience alongside her daughter.

Quality time at horse camp

RaiseRight helped Margaret and her family create memories without breaking the bank. She proudly says, "RaiseRight has been a godsend for our family and a huge blessing in our life."

Moving up to Boy Scouts and program coordination

Eventually, Margaret became the RaiseRight coordinator for her younger son’s scout troop, where she continued to witness the fundraising program’s impact firsthand. The troop sought a reliable, year-round fundraiser, so Margaret suggested RaiseRight and offered to manage the program herself.

"Over the years, I can see how much RaiseRight benefited my family. Now, I want to spread the word about RaiseRight to everyone! Like, listen, you need to do this if you want to send your kids to summer camp without busting your budget."

Once again, thanks to RaiseRight, Margaret’s son could attend an out-of-state summer camp, and their family even raised enough for her husband to join him on the trip.

Margaret's husband and son at summer camp

As a coordinator, Margaret also discovered other RaiseRight benefits, such as being able to use gift cards to earn and incentivize. For instance, when the troop hosted a fun competition, the winner could receive a gift card prize on the spot, eliminating the need for extra preparation. 

RaiseRight made it so easy for Margaret and her kids to raise money for their activities that she decided to bring this fundraiser to a cause that's close to her heart. 

Full circle—from kids' clubs to community impact

Now that her children are grown, Margaret has found a new way to use RaiseRight to help others. Her close friend, Christine Martin, started Underpants for All in 2022, a nonprofit that provides undergarments to those without access. Christine recognized Margaret's bookkeeping and business management skills and invited her to join as a co-partner.

Margaret seized the opportunity to bring RaiseRight to UFA, confident that it could enhance the group’s fundraising efforts during its early stages.

With the money earned through gift card purchases and online shopping, she plans to "raise funds for basic needs for our organization. We’ve also discussed upgrading our website and having a better online presence." Margaret also plans to use UFA’s RaiseRight earnings to buy more undergarments and invest in office supplies, organization needs, and marketing materials.

Fortunately, RaiseRight programs are always on—24/7, 365. Whenever someone purchases a gift card or shops online through their RaiseRight program, UFA earns money that they can put to good use.

Co-founders of Underpants For All (L to R): Margaret, Patrick Martin, and Christine Martin

Generational giving

How did Margaret’s perspective on RaiseRight change and evolve over the years? "My mindset has shifted from 'how can this benefit me?' to 'how can this benefit other families?' and now to 'how can we use this money to make a bigger difference in the community?"

Her children are following in her footsteps.

Now an adult, her daughter understands the importance of RaiseRight during her childhood years. The privilege and benefits of participating in a girls’ club, camps, and other extracurricular programs are not lost on her.

Margaret says about her daughter, "Now, she wants to contribute and buy gift cards to support UFA! RaiseRight has really helped us from one generation to the next."

That’s one of the reasons RaiseRight works so well for many families—our programs grow and evolve with you while remaining convenient and accessible. And, with newer, more modern features like the RaiseRight mobile app and online shopping, people like Margaret and her daughter can conveniently continue raising money for their favorite causes. 

Words of wisdom

RaiseRight enabled Margaret to send her kids to camps and clubs for over 15 years—and now she can use it to help others in need with UFA. 

Some advice Margaret would pass on to other RaiseRight program coordinators? "Don’t hesitate—get people involved as quickly as possible. And keep an eye out for bonus events. I also use the Coordinator Resource Center tools a lot! The flyers are great because you don’t have to create them yourself."

RaiseRight helps you earn funds for any nonprofit program or cause, such as:

• Sports teams or music groups
• Private school tuition, PTO/PTA funding, or general school fundraising
• General nonprofits, scout troops, or community aid organizations
• Churches and religious groups
• Booster clubs

Simply enroll in a free fundraising program, add participants, buy gift cards or shop online, and earn money. Take it from Margaret herself: "It’s the best fundraiser ever!"