Margaret Downey founded the Freethought Society and the Anti-Discrimination Support Network in 1993. In 1994 Margaret founded the Thomas Paine Memorial Committee.

As a free-lance journalist and public speaker Margaret pursues stories of discrimination, choice in dying, humanitarian lifestyles, living as a Secularist, atheism and family planning. Her articles concentrate on activist issues, political and religious satire, separation of church and state, and the advancement of freethought. She has been published in two books, Parenting Beyond Belief and Voices of Disbelief.

Margaret has represented the interest of the nontheist community (since 1995) at several United Nations conferences and spoke at the United Nations Freedom of Religion and Belief meeting in New York City. She attended the 2001 United Nations Freedom of Religion and Belief Conference in Madrid, Spain.

Margaret is a past board member of the American Humanist Association (AHA), The Humanist Institute, the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the Thomas Paine National Historical Association. She is a current board member of Scouting For All and serves on the Advisory Board of the Robert Green Ingersoll Museum

With these connections Margaret can keep her finger on the pulse of the atheist community. She has become a proud atheist spokesperson and media representative.

In the year 2002, Margaret became the first “Secular Humanist Celebrant” in Pennsylvania. Taking advantage of Pennsylvania’s “Self-Uniting” marriage licenses, Margaret performs godless weddings, naming ceremonies and funerals. Her secular naming ceremony was featured on PBS in 2008.

Margaret has also appeared on Nightline, 20/20, FOX News and various local television programs. She has been interviewed by NPR on such notable programs as Radio Times, and Talk of the Nation.

Margaret created the Richard Dawkins Award in 2003.

In 2007, Margaret designed and installed a Tree of Knowledge at a free speech zone located at the Chester County Courthouse located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The design is being produced around the world as a nontheist symbol of the winter holiday. The book cover ornaments convey the mission and purpose of the Freethought Society.

Media Training Worldwide has endorsed Margaret to conduct media training in the nontheist community. Her four-hour class is highly praised for its attention to nontheist and skeptical issues. She has received rave reviews through the American Humanist Association and the James Randi Foundation.

In 2008, Margaret helped create the business plan for the United Coalition of Reason.

She continues to volunteer for the organization and advocates cooperation throughout the nontheist community.

Margaret served as president of AAI for two years hosting two conventions during her 2006-2008 term.

Margaret is well-known for her unique events and parties. In 2000, she developed the Friggatriskaidekaphobia Treatment Center concept which opens every Friday the Thirteenth to help those who are afflicted with unreasonable fears and superstitions. Her team of Friggatriskaidekaphobia Nurses and Doctors also challenge skeptics to poke fun at superstitions. Anyone completing the “test” is awarded a “Clean Bill of Mental Health.”