School fundraising that keeps every dollar
Walk-a-thons, read-a-thons, fun runs, jog-a-thons — whatever your school runs, PledgeAthon handles the donations, the tracking, and the headaches. Zero platform fees.
School fundraising is broken
Your PTA spent weeks organizing a walk-a-thon. Teachers rallied the kids. Parents shared links. The event was a hit — you raised $8,000.
Then the platform took its cut. Processing fees. Platform fees. A "suggested tip" that donors thought went to the school. By the time the check arrived, you kept $6,800. That's $1,200 that never made it to the kids.
PledgeAthon charges zero platform fees. The only cost is standard Stripe processing (2.9% + 30¢ per card transaction) — the same rate every major platform uses. On that same $8,000, your school keeps roughly $7,740. Cash and check donations? Zero fees.
How it works
Set up your school's fundraiser in about 60 seconds.
Create your fundraiser
Name your event, set the dates, and upload your participant list via CSV. Takes about 60 seconds.
Share donation pages
Every student gets a unique donation page with a shareable link and QR code. Send them home on flyers, post in the school newsletter, text to family.
Collect donations & track progress
Donors give online (credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay) or you log cash and checks. Watch the leaderboard update in real time.
Built for schools
Everything your PTA, principal, or fundraising committee needs.
Zero platform fees
Every dollar donated goes to your school. The only cost is standard Stripe processing (2.9% + 30¢ per card transaction). Cash and check donations cost nothing.
Every student participates
Upload your roster via CSV and every student gets their own donation page. No kid left out because their parents didn't download an app or create an account.
QR codes for flyers & backpack mail
Each participant page has a unique QR code. Print them on flyers, stick them on water bottles, send them home in backpacks. Grandma scans it and donates in 30 seconds.
Live leaderboards
Students and classes 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 amount ($25) or pledge per lap, per book, per minute. Works for any a-thon format your school runs.
Cash & check tracking
Not every donation comes in online. Log cash and checks in the dashboard so you have one complete picture of your fundraiser. Zero fees on those.
Works for every a-thon
PledgeAthon supports flat donations and per-activity pledges, so it fits whatever event your school is running.
Running something different? If it involves collecting donations for participants, PledgeAthon handles it.
Why schools switch
Old way: $8,000 raised → $6,800 kept
Platform fees, processing fees, and confusing "tips" that donors thought went to the school. Roughly 15% disappeared before your organization saw a dime.
PledgeAthon: $8,000 raised → $7,740 kept
Zero platform fees. Just standard Stripe processing on card payments (2.9% + 30¢). Cash and check donations are completely free. Tips are optional and clearly labeled as going to PledgeAthon, not your school.
Frequently asked questions
What types of school fundraisers work with PledgeAthon?
Walk-a-thons, read-a-thons, jog-a-thons, fun runs, dance-a-thons, bike-a-thons — any event where participants collect donations based on activity or flat amounts. If your school runs an a-thon, PledgeAthon handles it.
How much does PledgeAthon cost?
Zero platform fees. The only cost is standard Stripe payment processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per card transaction. That's the same rate GoFundMe and 99Pledges charge. Cash and check donations have no fees at all. There are no monthly charges, no contracts, and no setup fees.
How do we get the money?
You connect your school'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 fundraiser ends.
Can parents donate without creating an account?
Yes. Donors visit the student's donation page, enter their amount, pay with credit card or Apple Pay, and they're done. No account required. No app to download.
How do we set up participants?
Upload a CSV with student names (and optionally class/grade). PledgeAthon creates a unique donation page for each student automatically. You can also add participants one at a time from the dashboard.
Your school deserves a better fundraiser
Free to set up. Zero platform fees. Every student gets their own donation page. Ready in 60 seconds.
No credit card required. No contracts.