PledgeAthon vs Snap Raise
Snap Raise charges 15-18% platform fees on everything your team raises. PledgeAthon charges 0%. See how much more your team keeps.
Looking for a Snap Raise Alternative?
Snap Raise has become one of the most popular fundraising platforms for high school and youth sports teams. Their model is straightforward: they assign your team a fundraising coordinator, each player gets a donation page, and the coordinator helps drive participation through email campaigns and coaching.
The problem is the cost. Snap Raise charges a 15-18% platform feeon every dollar donated. If your basketball team raises $10,000, Snap Raise keeps $1,500 to $1,800 for themselves. If your football booster club raises $25,000, they take $3,750 to $4,500. That money could buy new equipment, fund travel to tournaments, or cover registration fees for players who can't afford them.
PledgeAthon is a zero-fee a-thon fundraising platform. There is no platform fee. The only cost is standard Stripe processing at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. On that same $25,000 fundraiser, your total cost is about $800 instead of $4,500. That's $3,700 more for your team.
The key difference in fundraising model: Snap Raise is a general donation platform where supporters give a flat amount. PledgeAthon is built specifically for a-thon events where donors pledge per activity — per lap, per book read, per hit, per basket made. This model is more engaging because it ties donations to student effort and performance. Kids are motivated to do more because every lap earns more money for their team.
For sports teams running hit-a-thons, swim-a-thons, shoot-a-thons, or any pledge-per-activity fundraiser, PledgeAthon is purpose-built for exactly that use case. And it costs a fraction of what Snap Raise charges.
Zero platform fee. Keep what your team raises.
Start Free CampaignFeature-by-Feature Comparison
Zero fees and a-thon-specific tools vs 15-18% platform fees and general fundraising.
| Feature | PledgeAthon | Snap Raise |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 0% | 15-18% |
| Processing fee | 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe) | Included in platform fee |
| Cost on $10,000 raised | ~$320 | ~$1,500-$1,800 |
| Cost on $25,000 raised | ~$800 | ~$3,750-$4,500 |
| Fundraising model | A-thon (per-activity pledges) | General fundraising |
| Free SMS reminders | ||
| Automatic QR codes | ||
| Self-service setup | ||
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | ||
| 1-day payouts | ||
| Per-activity pledges | ||
| Live leaderboards | ||
| Participant pages | ||
| Assigned coordinator | ||
| Email outreach |
The Real Cost Comparison
PledgeAthon charges 0% platform fee. Snap Raise charges 15-18%. See what your team actually keeps.
$10,000 raised
PledgeAthon
$9,680
~$320 in fees
Snap Raise
$8,200-$8,500
$1,500-$1,800 in fees
You save $1,180-$1,480
$25,000 raised
PledgeAthon
$24,200
~$800 in fees
Snap Raise
$20,500-$21,250
$3,750-$4,500 in fees
You save $2,950-$3,700
$50,000 raised
PledgeAthon
$48,400
~$1,600 in fees
Snap Raise
$41,000-$42,500
$7,500-$9,000 in fees
You save $5,900-$7,400
Based on average donation of $25. PledgeAthon: 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe). Snap Raise: 15-18% platform fee.
Why Per-Activity Pledges Raise More Than Flat Donations
Snap Raise uses a traditional donation model: supporters visit a player's page and give a one-time flat amount. There's no activity component, no performance tie-in, and no reason for the athlete to do anything specific to earn more money.
PledgeAthon uses a per-activity pledge model. Donors pledge an amount per lap, per book, per hit, or per whatever activity your event tracks. When a player runs 20 laps and Uncle Dave pledged $2 per lap, that's $40 earned through effort. The athlete is motivated to perform because every lap means more money for the team.
This model works especially well for sports teams because it taps into the competitive nature of athletes. Kids push harder when they know their performance directly impacts how much they raise. Leaderboards show who's on top. Parents and family members feel more connected to the outcome because their pledge is tied to something real.
Schools and teams using per-activity pledges typically raise 30-50% morethan flat donation campaigns. When you combine that uplift with PledgeAthon's 0% platform fee (versus Snap Raise's 15-18%), the financial difference is enormous. Your team raises more gross and keeps more net.
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Start Free CampaignWhy Teams Switch
Zero Platform Fee
Snap Raise takes 15-18% of everything you raise. PledgeAthon charges 0% platform fee. The only cost is standard Stripe processing at 2.9% + $0.30. On a $25,000 fundraiser, that saves your team $2,950 to $3,700.
Per-Activity Pledges
Snap Raise only supports flat donations. PledgeAthon supports per-activity pledges where donors pledge per lap, per hit, per book, or per any activity. This engages athletes and typically raises 30-50% more than flat donations.
Free SMS Reminders
Snap Raise relies on email outreach. PledgeAthon sends free SMS reminders to donors with a direct link to pledge. Text messages have a 98% open rate compared to 20% for email. More opens, more pledges.
Self-Service Setup
Snap Raise requires working with an assigned coordinator and their timeline. PledgeAthon is self-service. Create your campaign, upload your roster, and start collecting pledges in under 5 minutes. No calls, no waiting.
Automatic QR Codes
Every player's pledge page gets a printable QR code. Put them on game-day programs, banquet flyers, and locker room posters. Parents and fans scan and pledge in seconds without typing a URL.
1-Day Stripe Payouts
No waiting weeks for your money. PledgeAthon uses Stripe Connect with 1-business-day payouts directly to your organization's bank account. Get funds fast when you need them for equipment or travel.
Switching from Snap Raise Takes 5 Minutes
You don't need to cancel anything with Snap Raise or migrate data. Just start your next fundraiser on PledgeAthon instead. Here's how:
- Create your free PledgeAthon account — takes 60 seconds. No credit card needed.
- Set up your campaign — name it, set a goal, pick your event type (hit-a-thon, swim-a-thon, walk-a-thon, etc.).
- Upload your roster — CSV upload. Every player gets a unique pledge page with a shareable link and QR code instantly.
- Connect Stripe— 5-minute onboarding. Donations go directly to your organization's bank account.
- Share and collect — send pledge links via SMS, print QR codes for programs and flyers, and watch the leaderboard fill up.
Most teams run their next a-thon event on PledgeAthon and immediately see the difference in their bottom line. When you keep 97% instead of 82%, every fundraiser becomes significantly more impactful.
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Start Free CampaignFrequently Asked Questions
How does Snap Raise's 15-18% fee work?
Snap Raise charges a platform fee of 15-18% on every donation. If your team raises $10,000, Snap Raise keeps $1,500 to $1,800 off the top. Payment processing fees are included in that percentage, but the total cost is still dramatically higher than PledgeAthon's 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction through Stripe.
Is PledgeAthon good for sports teams?
Absolutely. PledgeAthon works for any group running an a-thon style fundraiser. Sports teams use it for hit-a-thons, swim-a-thons, shoot-a-thons, and general walk-a-thons or fun runs. Every player gets a unique pledge page, and per-activity pledges motivate kids to perform. The difference is you keep 100% of what you raise instead of losing 15-18%.
Snap Raise assigns a fundraising coordinator. Does PledgeAthon?
PledgeAthon is self-service by design. You create your campaign, upload participants, and share links in under 5 minutes. We built the platform to be so simple that a coordinator isn't needed. That said, our support team is available if you need help. The trade-off: Snap Raise charges 15-18% to fund that coordinator. PledgeAthon charges 0% because you don't need one.
Can PledgeAthon handle general fundraising like Snap Raise?
PledgeAthon is purpose-built for a-thon fundraisers where donors pledge per activity (per lap, per book, per hit). This model is more engaging than general donation pages because it ties giving to student effort. If you're specifically looking for a general fundraising page with no activity component, Snap Raise may be a better fit. But if you're running any kind of a-thon, PledgeAthon saves you thousands in fees.
How much does my team actually save with PledgeAthon?
On a $10,000 fundraiser, PledgeAthon costs about $320 in Stripe processing fees. Snap Raise would take $1,500 to $1,800. That's $1,180 to $1,480 more for your team. On a $25,000 fundraiser, PledgeAthon costs about $800. Snap Raise takes $3,750 to $4,500. You save $2,950 to $3,700. The more you raise, the more you save.
Learn more about how PledgeAthon works for different events:
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