We’re beyond excited to share that the Raise Community Group (RCG) was recently featured in USA Today, highlighting how a student-powered nonprofit is transforming traditional philanthropy and redefining who gets to lead change.
RCG’s Model: A New Approach for a Changing World
The nonprofit sector faces serious challenges—from financial instability to outdated power dynamics. Too often, it’s weighed down by overreliance on donors, under-supported volunteer teams, and persistent top-down structures that overlook the people and potential within the communities themselves.
That’s where RCG’s model stands out. As USA Today noted, our “non-traditional working model may be the answer.”
RCG’s core belief is simple but radical: when you invest in non-traditional talent—like high schoolers, college students, and local leaders—you unlock empathy-driven, high-impact solutions. Our teams are made up of passionate volunteers from around the globe, working alongside those they aim to support in Uganda and beyond. We challenge age-old tropes in the nonprofit space that say you must be “older” or “more experienced” to create impact.
From Harvard Dorms to Global Impact
RCG began in 2014 as Raise Uganda Now (RUN)—an orphanage founded by a group of Harvard freshmen. What began as an ambitious, student-led effort to support vulnerable children in rural Uganda has since grown into a global ecosystem of educators, healthcare professionals, and engineers. Many joined RCG as students and stayed on as specialists.
At the heart of RUN’s success is the collaboration with local leaders like Betty Kadondi, who once supported orphaned children in her neighborhood with little more than grit and compassion. RUN recognized her leadership, officially hired her as head caretaker, and today, she serves as Executive Director of RUN.
“Over time, it wasn’t only about survival,” Kadondi reflected. “It became about empowering them to help themselves and encouraging future generations to do the same.”
Projects That Grow With the People They Serve
RCG’s work has expanded from education to healthcare, dental hygiene, and water access—partnering with the Benco Family Foundation, SPOUTS, and KitKit School. Our most ambitious project yet? The RUN Community Center, opened in 2025 as a wellness hub, public library, after-school center, and more.
Each initiative is co-developed and run with members of the community. The result? Everyone—on both sides—grows sustainably.
Students in the Driver’s Seat
Back in the U.S., students are driving the momentum. Take Colby Weiss, who joined RCG as a Harvard sophomore and helped launch its healthcare division. He eventually led a trip to Uganda, strengthened programs with local health workers, and rose through the ranks to become President of the Board of Directors.
“Living in Bugiri brought a whole new dimension to the projects I had been working on,” Weiss shared. “To now help the next generation of volunteers and connect with a community across the world is a full-circle moment.”
In 2024, RCG launched its first high school internship program, selecting students from Harvard’s Global Health and Leadership Conference. These interns don’t just learn about nonprofit work—they help lead it, gaining direct experience with sustainable solutions and mentorship before they even apply to college.
“I joined RCG because I was passionate about combining research, collaboration, and community-driven change,” shares Sonia, an Education Intern. “Everyone brings such creativity and dedication to the table. Seeing our work make a real-world difference has been incredibly fulfilling.”
Why This Matters
RCG’s model works because it trusts in people’s potential—even when society doesn’t. Whether it’s a high schooler in California or a caretaker in Bugiri, we believe leadership, insight, and impact can come from anywhere. And when those voices unite? The possibilities are endless.
👉 To read the full USA Today article, visit:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/special/contributor-content/2025/02/13/meet-raise-community-group-the-next-generation-of-philanthropists-building-communities-from-the-bott/78527793007/