For PTAs & PTOs
PTA & PTO fundraising that respects your time
You're a volunteer. You have a full-time job, kids of your own, and a PTA board that needs results. PledgeAthon is the free, zero-fee fundraising platform that lets you launch a walk-a-thon, read-a-thon, or fun run in under 10 minutes.
Free forever. No credit card required.
Why PTAs love PledgeAthon
Built for volunteer-run organizations where nobody has time to learn complicated software.
$0
Zero platform fees
Your board will love this line item. PledgeAthon charges nothing — no platform fee, no monthly fee, no setup fee. The only cost is standard Stripe processing (2.9% + 30¢ per card transaction). On a $5,000 fundraiser, that's roughly $170 in processing — and you keep the other $4,830.
10 min
Setup in one sitting
You don't have time for a 3-hour onboarding process. Name your event, set the dates, upload your class roster as a CSV, and every student has their own donation page. Do it from the carpool line.
100%
Every dollar to your PTA
No hidden fees, no revenue sharing, no surprise invoices. Donations go directly to your PTA's bank account via Stripe within 1 business day. Cash and check donations have zero fees.
Ditch the catalog sales
We get it — wrapping paper fundraisers and cookie dough sales have been the default for decades. But here's the math that most PTA boards don't talk about:
Product sales: you keep 40-50%
Sell $10,000 in wrapping paper, your PTA keeps $4,000-$5,000. The catalog company keeps the rest. Plus you're sorting, distributing, and chasing down orders for weeks.
A-thon events: you keep 97%+
Raise $10,000 through a walk-a-thon on PledgeAthon, your PTA keeps roughly $9,700 (after Stripe processing). No inventory, no delivery logistics, no leftover product. Just donations straight to your bank account.
That's the difference between keeping $4,500 and keeping $9,700 on the same amount of parent participation.
Popular PTA fundraiser types
PledgeAthon supports any a-thon event. Pick the one that fits your school's vibe.
Walk-a-thon
The classic. Kids walk laps, families donate per lap or a flat amount. Easy to organize, works for any grade level.
Read-a-thon
Students read for a set period and collect donations per page, per minute, or a flat amount. Teachers love it because it encourages reading.
Fun Run
An obstacle course or themed run that gets the whole school excited. Families donate per lap or flat. Great energy, great photos for social media.
Dance-a-thon
Students dance for a set time and collect donations. Works especially well for younger grades and spirit weeks.
Bike-a-thon
Students ride laps on a track or trail. Perfect for schools with outdoor space. Families donate per lap or a flat amount.
Jump Rope-a-thon
Individual or team jumping with donations per minute or flat. Low cost to set up, easy to run during gym class or recess.
Built for busy volunteers
You have enough on your plate. These features exist so you can spend less time on software and more time on your school.
60-second setup
Name your fundraiser, set your dates, and you're live. No training manual, no onboarding call, no 45-minute setup wizard.
CSV roster upload
Export your class roster from your school directory, upload the CSV, and every student gets their own donation page instantly.
Automatic donation pages
Each student gets a unique page with a shareable link and QR code. Parents text it to grandparents, post it on Facebook, done.
Live leaderboard
Kids can see where they stand in real time. Nothing motivates a 3rd grader like seeing their name on a leaderboard.
Flat + per-activity donations
Donors can give a flat $25, or donate $2 per lap. Both options on every page. You choose what fits your event.
Cash & check tracking
Grandma still writes checks. That's fine. Log cash and check donations in the dashboard so you see the full picture.
How it works
Create your fundraiser
Sign up, name your event (e.g. “Lincoln Elementary Walk-a-thon 2026”), set your start and end dates, and connect your PTA's bank account through Stripe. Takes about 5 minutes.
Add your students
Upload a CSV of student names (first name, last name — that's it) or add them one at a time. Each student gets their own donation page with a unique link and QR code.
Share the links
Send each family their child's donation page link. Parents share it with grandparents, aunts, uncles, coworkers, neighbors — anyone who wants to support. Post the campaign link in your school Facebook group.
Watch the donations come in
Track everything from your dashboard — total raised, donations by student, leaderboard standings. Money hits your PTA's bank account within 1 business day. No waiting for the event to end.
Frequently asked questions
Is PledgeAthon really free for our PTA?
Yes. Zero platform fees, zero monthly charges, no contracts. The only cost is standard Stripe payment processing (2.9% + $0.30 per card transaction), which is deducted automatically from each donation. Cash and check donations have zero fees. Your PTA keeps every dollar raised.
How does PledgeAthon make money if it's free?
When donors make a donation, they see the option to leave a small, voluntary tip to support PledgeAthon — like tipping on a delivery app. Tips are always optional and donors can skip it entirely. Your PTA receives 100% of every donation. Tips go to PledgeAthon, not to your organization.
Can we use this for a read-a-thon, not just a walk-a-thon?
Absolutely. PledgeAthon works for any a-thon event: walk-a-thons, read-a-thons, fun runs, dance-a-thons, bike-a-thons, jump rope-a-thons — you name it. The platform supports both per-activity donations (per lap, per page, per minute) and flat donations.
How do we get the money to our PTA bank account?
You connect your PTA's bank account through Stripe during setup (takes about 2 minutes). After that, funds are deposited within 1 business day of each donation. No waiting until the event is over — money flows as donations come in.
Do we need to be tech-savvy to set this up?
Not at all. If you can send an email, you can run a fundraiser on PledgeAthon. Create the campaign, upload your student roster via CSV (or add names manually), and share the links. Most PTAs are fully set up in under 10 minutes.
Your PTA deserves better
Stop losing 50% to catalog companies. Launch a free a-thon fundraiser in under 10 minutes and keep 97%+ of what you raise.
Free forever. No credit card. No contracts. Just fundraising.