Lightning Baseball Turns an Unexpected Transition Into a 30X Win

When this Colorado baseball academy made an unexpected move from FlipGive to RaiseRight, their earnings skyrocketed—right off the bat.

Lightning Baseball isn't your typical community baseball team. They're a sizable travel sports academy, made up of eight teams across Colorado that serve roughly 150 kids and their families. 

Founded and operated as a family business, Lightning Baseball is led by Dave Tucker and his two sons, Michael and Matt. The organization is committed to developing high-quality athletes through programs that challenge the players, elevate their skills, and prepare them for collegiate-level play. That pursuit of excellence, however, comes at a high cost for families.

Keeping participation accessible

"Parents can expect to spend $4,000 to $5,000 per season, and that doesn't include travel costs, which can vary from a few hundred to a few thousand more, depending on the distance," says Michael. 

That kind of expense can be hard to stomach for some families. In 2021, one of the moms introduced FlipGive, a cashback shopping fundraiser, to the organization. Already earning nearly $2,000 annually with another organization, she knew exactly how to get families started, and it caught on quickly. 

Michael also noticed the value immediately. When that mom and her son eventually moved on, he kept the program going, so the families who needed it could continue using it. 

"We use this fundraiser as a means for financial assistance," he explains. "I apply 100% of the family's earnings directly toward reducing their fees."

An unexpected pivot

In fall 2025, FlipGive announced it would be closing U.S. operations and transitioning all U.S. organizations to their partner, RaiseRight.

For Lightning Baseball's active users, the news initially sparked concern. "At first, they were worried," Michael recalls. "But eventually, they were able to cash out and make the move over to RaiseRight without issues."

The transition also happened to coincide with an influx of new players and families joining, which worked in their favor. "We informed new families about the switch, but since they hadn't used FlipGive before, we onboarded them directly to RaiseRight."

There was plenty of uncertainty about what the change would bring, but what they found on the other side surprised them.

Surprising results

The numbers tell the story. In their first five months on RaiseRight, Lightning Baseball made over $31,000 in purchases, putting more than $2,000 back into the pockets of families who needed it most.

In the same window the prior year, the organization had made just $5,000 in total purchases on FlipGive, and earned just over $100.

That's more than 6x the purchase volume and 20x the earnings—in just one season. With the rest of the calendar year still ahead, Lightning Baseball is on track to out-earn everything they ever made on FlipGive by over 30x.

Why RaiseRight works better for Lightning Baseball 

We asked Michael what's behind the jump in results, and the answer came quickly. "More brands, higher earnings, better bonuses, great mobile app...and you can earn twice on the same purchase with online shopping and gift cards."

The broader brand catalog has been one of the biggest drivers. FlipGive's selection felt limited, whereas RaiseRight partners with over 500 brands, including retailers where families often spend big. Home improvement stores like IKEA and Home Depot are a prime example. "You could easily spend $2,000 or more at those stores and earn over $100," Michael mentions.

And layering gift card purchases with online shopping means families can earn on the same transaction two ways at once, with occasional bonus promotions pushing those earnings even further. "I earned nearly $40 from a Total Wine purchase!" Michael says.

RaiseRight has also made life easier on the administrative side. FlipGive required a separate account for each team, but RaiseRight only requires one program for the entire group. For an organization with multiple teams like Lightning Baseball, that's one less headache to deal with.

Creating a rhythm that makes participation seamless

Fueled by their newfound success, Lightning Baseball now makes RaiseRight a natural part of the onboarding experience. 

"Once a family registers for the season, they learn about RaiseRight, so by the time the holidays roll around, they're racking up earnings with their holiday shopping." Then, each spring, earnings are applied to accounts, giving families a tangible payoff just in time for next season. 

The families who embrace it are reaping serious benefits. "The ones who use RaiseRight consistently see the value and enjoy using it," Michael notes.

Participation has nearly doubled, too. Michael credits better communication, an influx of new families, and a platform that's simply more intuitive to use. 

Looking ahead

Michael is candid about where things stand. Today, RaiseRight is a benefit, not a requirement, so only a portion of families are actively using it. "Many families don't need the financial assistance, but those who do greatly appreciate having the option," he says. The focus remains on deepening that impact for those families.

But he's also thinking bigger. Michael is considering a program structure that would give families the flexibility to either earn for their own fees, or fundraise for the organization as a whole. And increasing participation and keeping families engaged even during the off-season is also a priority.

Lightning Baseball didn't choose RaiseRight, but they chose to make the most of it. By taking full advantage of everything RaiseRight has to offer, they turned an unexpected transition into a major win, and they haven't looked back since.