7 Things to Know About Elementary Fundraising Programs

When your school needs to raise funds for STEM equipment, playground upgrades, or classroom supplies, picking the right school fundraising programs can make all the difference. Apex Leadership Co. gives schools a turnkey approach that combines digital pledging, fitness-based events, and leadership curriculum into one high-energy experience.

This guide covers the seven factors PTO leaders and principals should evaluate before selecting an elementary school fundraising program. From digital donation tools to teacher support features, you'll find everything you need to make an informed decision.

Quick guide: 7 things to know about elementary school fundraising programs

1. Apex Leadership Co.: The premier choice for schools wanting fitness-based Fun Run events with built-in leadership curriculum and digital pledge collection
2. 99Pledges: An online platform for a-thon events with participant fundraising pages
3. Get Movin: A digital tool for Fun Runs and other activity-based fundraisers
4. Read-A-Thon: A reading-focused fundraiser with minute tracking and online donations
5. Schoolfundr: A crowdfunding-style option for teams and classroom projects

How we chose these elementary school fundraising programs

As a PTO president or school principal, your time is valuable. You need a fundraiser that raises real money without burning out your volunteer team or taking teachers away from instruction. Here's what we looked for when evaluating these options:

• Digital pledge collection: Can donors give online from anywhere, or will you be chasing paper forms and checks?
• Student engagement: Does the program get kids excited, or will participation fizzle after the first few days?
• Teacher and volunteer workload: How much setup and management falls on your already-busy staff?
• Educational value: Does the fundraiser teach students something meaningful, like leadership or fitness habits?
• Fundraising results: What's the track record for actual dollars raised per student?
• Event support: Will a dedicated team handle logistics, or is your PTO doing everything solo?

The 7 things to know about elementary school fundraising programs

1. Apex Leadership Co.: The top school fundraising program for Fun Run events with leadership curriculum

Apex Leadership Co. delivers a two-week Fun Run fundraising program that raises more money while teaching students character education and fitness habits. Schools using Apex report raising 70% more than with previous fundraisers, with most elementary schools profiting over $30,000 in a single event.

What makes Apex different is the turnkey approach. A team of energetic athletes arrives at your school to run daily lessons, pep rallies, team days, and the Fun Run event itself. Teachers and PTO volunteers don't handle setup, coordination, or cleanup. The Apex team does the heavy lifting so your staff can focus on students.

The online pledge platform allows families to share their student's page with friends and relatives nationwide. Donors pledge per lap or make flat donations using credit cards or digital wallets. Payments deposit directly into your school's bank account immediately after the event.

Apex Leadership Co. features

• PBIS-based leadership lessons: Students learn habits of leadership through daily team activities, building character while fundraising
• Online pledge collection: Families share donation links via email, text, and social media, reaching donors far beyond your local community
• Full event management: The Apex team handles communication ma†erials, excitement building, pep rallies, team days, the event setup, music, and coordination
• Teacher funding built in: A portion of what each classroom raises goes back to the teacher for classroom supplies
• Multiple event formats: Choose from Fun Run, Obstacle Course, Glow Run, or Remix programs

Apex Leadership Co. pros and cons

Pros:

• Full-service team runs the entire event, reducing volunteer workload dramatically
• Leadership and fitness curriculum adds educational value beyond fundraising
• High student engagement with daily activities, wristbands, and classroom incentives

Cons:

• Programs run for two weeks, which requires calendar coordination with school events
• In-person events need gym or outdoor space availability during the program
• Schools in remote areas may need to confirm team availability for their region

2. 99Pledges: A platform for online a-thon fundraisers

99Pledges offers an online system where students create individual fundraising pages for a-thon events. The platform accepts credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, making it convenient for donors to give from anywhere.

Schools use 99Pledges for jog-a-thons, read-a-thons, dance-a-thons, and similar events. Each participant gets a dedicated page to share with family and friends. The platform tracks donations in real time and shows leaderboard rankings to encourage friendly competition.

99Pledges features

• Individual fundraising pages: Each student has their own page to share via email, text, and social media
• Real-time tracking: Organizers see donation totals and participation rates as they come in
• Multiple payment options: Accepts credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay

99Pledges pros and cons

Pros:

• Online donation tracking available for organizers and participants
• Students can share pages with family members outside the local area
• Accepts various payment methods including digital wallets

Cons:

• Schools organize and run the actual event themselves
• No on-site team or staff provided during the fundraiser
• Educational curriculum or leadership programming not included

3. Get Movin: A digital fundraising tool for activity events

Get Movin offers FundHub, an online platform for managing a-thon fundraisers. Schools can use it for Fun Runs, dance-a-thons, read-a-thons, and other activity-based events. The platform handles online donations, volunteer coordination, and incentive tracking.

The system includes tools for accepting credit card and digital wallet payments. Schools can also track cash and check donations within the platform to keep all fundraising data in one place.

Get Movin features

• FundHub platform: Manages donations, volunteers, and incentives from one dashboard
• Activity event templates: Pre-built setups for Fun Runs, dance-a-thons, and similar events
• Incentive management: Track and coordinate prize distribution for participants

Get Movin pros and cons

Pros:

• Multiple a-thon event types available on one platform
• Digital tools for volunteer coordination included
• Incentive tracking helps manage prize distribution

Cons:

• Event execution and staffing handled by your school
• No leadership or character education curriculum included
• Setup and coordination require PTO or staff time

4. Read-A-Thon: A reading-focused fundraiser

Read-A-Thon is a fundraising platform centered on student reading. Students log minutes read over a two-week period while family and friends make donations. The platform tracks reading progress and handles online payment processing.

Because students track minutes rather than pages or books, readers at any level can participate. The platform includes a prize store where students spend earned credits on items like headphones, building sets, and art kits.

Read-A-Thon features

• Minute tracking: Students log reading time, not pages, making it accessible for all reading levels
• Online prize store: Students earn credits to spend on prizes shipped directly to them
• Real-time dashboards: Teachers and organizers see reading and donation progress

Read-A-Thon pros and cons

Pros:

• Promotes literacy and reading habits alongside fundraising
• Minute-based tracking includes students at all reading levels
• Online donations eliminate cash and check collection

Cons:

• No fitness or physical activity component
• Teachers may need to verify reading logs
• On-site event energy or community gathering not part of the program

5. Schoolfundr: A crowdfunding option for schools and teams

Schoolfundr operates as a crowdfunding platform designed for schools, teams, and classrooms. Organizations create campaign pages and share them with potential donors. The platform works well for specific projects like equipment purchases, team travel, or classroom needs.

Unlike a-thon events, Schoolfundr campaigns don't involve student activities or participation milestones. Donations come from sharing the campaign page rather than sponsoring student performance.

Schoolfundr features

• Campaign pages: Create dedicated pages for specific fundraising goals
• A-thon capabilities: Add activity-based elements to campaigns if desired
• Multi-group management: Athletic directors can oversee multiple teams from one dashboard

Schoolfundr pros and cons

Pros:

• Works for various fundraising needs beyond school-wide events
• Simple campaign setup for specific projects
• Athletic directors can manage multiple groups centrally

Cons:

• No on-site event support or staffing
• Student engagement depends on campaign sharing rather than activities
• Educational or character-building elements not included

Comparison table: Elementary school fundraising programs

How does digital pledging improve elementary school fundraisers?

Digital pledging removes the paper forms and cash collection that make traditional fundraisers time-consuming. When donors can give online with a credit card or digital wallet, more people participate. Grandparents in another state, aunts overseas, and family friends can all donate without mailing a check.

Online platforms also give organizers real-time visibility into fundraising progress. You can see which classrooms are leading, identify students who might need encouragement, and share updates with the school community. 

The convenience factor extends to busy parents too. Instead of remembering to send cash or write a check, they tap a link on their phone and donate in seconds. This removes a barrier that often causes pledges to go unpaid.

What support do teachers need from school fundraising programs?

Teachers already have full plates with instruction, grading, and student support. A fundraising program that adds significant workload will face resistance from staff and may not perform as well. The most effective programs minimize what teachers need to do while keeping them connected to the excitement.

Apex Leadership Co. addresses this by having their team handle the daily activities, lessons, and event logistics. Teachers can participate in the energy without sacrificing instructional time to coordination tasks. Plus, the teacher funding feature means classroom teachers receive a portion of what their students raise, directly supporting their supply budgets.

Programs without on-site support often require teachers to manage reading logs, coordinate volunteers, or supervise event activities. Before selecting a fundraiser, ask what specific tasks will fall to your teaching staff and whether that aligns with their available capacity.

Why Apex Leadership Co. is the top elementary school fundraising program

When you compare the options, Apex Leadership Co. stands apart by combining what matters most to schools: high fundraising results, low volunteer burden, and meaningful student experiences. The PBIS-based leadership lessons give students skills they carry beyond the fundraiser. The dedicated team handles everything from pep rallies to payment collection.

Schools consistently report Apex raises 70% more than their previous fundraisers. Del Sur Elementary in California profited $55,061 after previously raising $15,000. Ridgeview Elementary in Texas grew from $7,500 to $33,000 over three years with Apex. These results come from the combination of high student engagement, broad digital reach, and professional event execution.

If your school wants a fundraiser that builds student character, raises significant funds, and respects the time of your teachers and volunteers, contact Apex Leadership Co. to learn how they can support your next event.

FAQs about elementary school fundraising programs

What is the most effective fundraiser for elementary schools?

Fun Run fundraisers with digital pledging consistently raise more money than traditional approaches. Apex Leadership Co. reports schools raise 70% more with their program compared to previous fundraisers. The combination of student engagement, online donation tools, and community event excitement drives higher participation and larger donations.

How do Fun Run fundraisers work for elementary schools?

Students collect pledges from family and friends, either per lap or as flat donations. During the Fun Run event, students run laps around a track while music plays and families cheer. Apex Leadership Co. includes two weeks of team days and leadership lessons leading up to the run, building excitement and engagement before event day.

Do digital fundraising platforms replace paper forms completely?

Online platforms like the one Apex Leadership Co. uses allow all pledges and payments to happen digitally. Donors enter their information online and payments process automatically after the event. Schools can still accept cash and checks if needed, but most families prefer the convenience of digital giving.

How much time does a school fundraising program require from teachers?

This varies significantly by program. With Apex Leadership Co., teachers participate in the excitement without handling logistics. The Apex team runs daily activities, coordinates volunteers, and manages the event. Other platforms may require teachers to track participation, verify logs, or supervise activities.

Can elementary school fundraisers include educational content?

Yes. Apex Leadership Co. includes PBIS-based leadership lessons throughout their two-week program. Students learn about respect, accountability, and positive habits while preparing for the Fun Run. This educational component makes the fundraiser more meaningful for students and gives teachers a character education tie-in.

What happens if a student is absent on Fun Run day?

Apex Leadership Co. automatically credits absent students with 30 laps so their pledges can still be honored. Sponsors receive notification and can choose to pay their pledges to support the school. Students who participate in at least 26 laps and collect all pledges qualify for top prize tiers.