10 Fundraising Platforms for Schools Ranked and Verified (2026)

You said yes to the bake sale and a fun run.

Then somehow you were the one holding a shoebox of crumpled bills, trying to figure out who still owed twelve dollars.

If that is you, first of all, thank you. People like you are the reason the field trip happens, and the team gets new jerseys. The work is worth it, even when it eats into your weekend.

But here is where it gets frustrating. You go looking for a tool to make it easier, and suddenly, you are drowning. There are dozens of fundraising platforms for schools, and every single one swears it is the best.

Some are free, some take a cut of every dollar. Some are built for sports teams, others for PTA dues, and a few are not really meant for schools at all.

Below, you will find the top 10 fundraising platforms for schools and PTOs, with honest notes on fees, features, and the kind of group each one actually suits.

Scan the top 10 fundraising platforms for schools in seconds

What do schools raise funds for?

Walk into any school, and the needs are everywhere. Not the big things a district pays for, but the everyday extras that make school worth showing up for.

That is where parent groups step in. Most online school fundraisers fill the gaps that a tight budget creates.

The funds go to:

• Books, supplies, and classroom tech
• Field trips and learning days
• Sports uniforms, gear, and travel
• Music, arts, and the spring show
• Playground and library upgrades
• Financial assistance for students who need support

Some groups raise funds for just one of these. Many chase all of them at once.

That is exactly why fundraising sites for students need to do more than host a single donation page.

What a good fundraising platform does for your school

Before you compare fundraising platforms for schools, it helps to know what “good” actually means here.

Schools and PTOs are not corporations with a finance team and a budget for software. You are running on small funds and borrowed evenings. So the right platform has to make both stretch further. That is the whole job.

Here is what separates the good fundraising platforms for schools from the ones that just look pretty in a demo:

• Low fees: The best tools are either free or allow donors to cover the small platform fee, so your group keeps more.
• Simple enough for any volunteer: Good fundraising software for schools sets up in minutes, with no training or tech background required.
• Multiple campaigns: Donations, fun runs, raffles*, auctions, online ticket sales for schools, and spirit wear stores. A strong platform runs them all from one place.
• No more shoebox of cash: Parents pay by card, Apple Pay, or a quick text. You stop chasing checks and counting bills at the kitchen table.
• Reports that do the math: At year’s end, your books should add up on their own. Look for automatic tracking and clean exports.
• Branding: The page should wear your school’s logo and colors. A custom URL and clean design keep the focus on your cause.

Nail these, and that overwhelming list of names gets short fast. The best fundraising platforms for schools tick most of these boxes without charging you for any extras.

*Note: Raffle rules vary by state and locality. Some require a permit, limit raffles to nonprofits, or bar online ticket sales. Check your state’s charitable gaming office before you sell tickets.

The top 10 fundraising platforms for schools and PTOs

We compared each platform on fees, features, and school fit. The list moves from the platform that gets closest to free, then works through specialists, big names, and a few you may not know yet.

Note: Pricing and features are current as of July 2026. Always double-check with the platform before signing up.

1. DoJiggy – Zero-fee fundraising platform

Running since 2003, it is an all-in-one platform that covers nearly every kind of school fundraiser without locking you into a contract.

What makes it stand out for schools is the range.

Most tools do one thing. DoJiggy runs your fun run, raffle, auction, ticketed gala, and your spirit wear store, all from one login. For sports parents, that breadth is the whole point.

A-thons and peer-to-peer tools are built for pledge-based events like fun runs, read-a-thons, and walk-a-thons.

Key DoJiggy features

• A-thons and peer-to-peer pages for walk-a-thons, fun runs, and team challenges
• Auctions, raffles, sweepstakes, event ticketing, and online stores in one place
• Free text-to-donate and scan-to-donate QR codes
• Recurring and matching gift donations, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay
• Your own logo, colors, and branding on every page
• A free expert review of your campaign before you launch

DoJiggy pricing

• No startup fee, no subscription, no support fee
• Two ways to pay: donor tips cover the cost (free to you), or choose percent pricing
• Donations: 1.9% or free with tips
• Crowdfunding, auctions, golf, ticketing: 4.9% or free with tips
• A-thons, raffles, sweepstakes: 6.9% or free with tips
• Card processing paid straight to Stripe or PayPal, no markup

Best use cases

• PTOs and booster clubs that want one tool for many fundraisers a year
• School teams running pledge-based fun runs, walk-a-thons, or A-thons

Case study: DoJiggy x DeSoto Trail Elementary

DeSoto used DoJiggy’s zero-fee fundraising platform and finished with more proceeds than any fundraiser before it. The team credited an easy setup and a platform that kept improving from their feedback.

2. Givebutter

Givebutter is a fundraising and donor management platform used by nonprofits, schools, and community groups. 

For a PTO, the appeal is a modern, quick setup with donor tools in one place. It leans toward general nonprofit fundraising and donor tracking, rather than school-specific tasks like dues or spirit wear stores.

Key features

• Donation forms, fundraising pages, and event ticketing
• Online auctions and peer-to-peer campaigns
• Free built-in CRM and donor engagement tools
• Mobile app, QR codes, and text-to-donate
• Card payments plus Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo

Pricing

• Tips on: $0 platform fees, and Givebutter covers any uncovered processing (the Givebutter Guarantee)
• Tips off: Flat 3% platform fee across all campaign types
• Free when optional donor tips are enabled
• Processing: 2.9% + $0.30 cards, 1.9% + $0.30 ACH
• Givebutter Plus: Givebutter Plus starts at $29/month billed annually ($348/year), or $33.80/month billed monthly, for up to 250 contacts.

Best use cases

• Groups wanting donation pages plus a free donor CRM
• PTOs running straightforward online campaigns and events

Caveat: Donations taken through the Givebutter mobile app fall outside the Givebutter Guarantee, since donors cannot add a tip in person.

3. Mightycause

Mightycause is a cloud-based fundraising platform for nonprofits, community groups, and schools. It focuses on customizable donation pages, team fundraising, and a built-in donor CRM.

It works well for campaign-style and team drives, with leaderboards that suit class-versus-class fundraising. It handles donations well, but school stores and ticketed events aren’t its strongest suit.

Key features

• Customizable donation pages and fundraiser templates
• Team and peer-to-peer fundraising with leaderboards
• Built-in donor CRM and exportable donation reports
• Recurring donations, matching grants, and text-to-give

Pricing

• Free to start, with no subscription
• Your effective cost is capped at 1.99% + $0.49 per transaction, processing included
• This works by charging 7.9% + $0.30 upfront, then crediting back anything above the cap
• If donors are not asked to cover fees, the full 7.9% + $0.30 may be deducted

Best use cases

• Class or team fundraising drives that use leaderboards
• Schools or nonprofits wanting donations plus a donor CRM

Caveat: The platform centers on donations rather than dues or store sales.

4. GoFundMe Pro

GoFundMe Pro (formerly known as Classy) is commonly used by nonprofits and schools running larger fundraising programs.

Key features

• Donation forms with personalized ask amounts, frequencies, and nudges
• Peer-to-peer fundraising for student, class, or alumni-led campaigns
• Live event tools with registration, ticketing, and check-in
• Recurring giving
• Donor management and reporting
• Integrations with Salesforce, Mailchimp, HubSpot, and DonorPerfect

Pricing

GoFundMe Pro does not list its platform prices. You get a quote after talking to their team.

Processing fees:

• Credit card: about 2.4% + $0.30
• American Express: add 1%
• PayPal or Venmo: from 2.5% + $0.30
• GoFundMe Pay: 2.2% +$0.30

Best use cases

• Alumni-facing campaigns needing donor management over time
• School foundations with staff running annual giving programs

Caveat: Since pricing is quoted rather than published, a small PTO cannot compare costs upfront without contacting the GoFundMe Pro team.

5. 99Pledges

99Pledges is a free platform built for “a-thon” style events, where each student gets a personal pledge page. It suits read-a-thons, fun runs, and similar peer-to-peer drives.

These per-student pages make it one of the simpler fundraising sites for students and teams. However, its scope is narrow, focused on pledge events rather than ticketing, stores, or year-round tools.

Key features

• A personal donation page for each participant
• Performance-based pledges by laps, minutes, or units
• Leaderboards and real-time admin reports
• Free cash and check tracking
• Setup help and a dedicated fundraising coach

Pricing

• Free, with $0 startup and 0% platform fees
• Only a 3.49% + $0.49 per-transaction card fee applies
• Funded by optional donor tips
• No fundraising minimums

Best use cases

• Read-a-thons, walk-a-thons, and fun-run pledge drives
• Class or team competitions using per-student pages

Caveat: 99Pledges partners only with US-based schools, teams, and groups, with limited exceptions for US military schools abroad.

6. Booster

Booster, known for Boosterthon, runs managed fun-run programs for schools.

It is a full-service option among PTA fundraising platforms. A consultant guides the process, and Booster supplies prizes, materials, and the MyBooster online platform.

Key features

• Event programs: Fun Run, Color Run, Glow Run, DanceFit
• MyBooster online pledge pages and prize management
• Character-building videos and student incentives
• Service levels from DIY tech-only to full on-site staffing

Pricing

• Not available publicly; Booster quotes a custom plan per school
• You pay for the services and support level you choose
• Pricing is shared through a consultation

Best use cases

• Elementary and middle schools that want one big annual event
• Groups that prefer a done-for-you fundraiser

Caveat: Since Booster is a managed service, your cost depends on the support level, so weigh it against your expected funds raised.

7. Cheddar Up

Cheddar Up is built for school and PTA payment collection. It handles dues, spirit wear, field-trip fees, donations, and event tickets.

Think of it less as a donation tool and more as a clean way to sell tickets, collect sign-ups, and manage waivers.

Key features

• Custom collection pages with forms, waivers, and sign-ups
• Online and in-person payments via app and card readers
• Item sales, ticketing, and recurring dues
• Free withdrawals to your bank account
• Templates built for school and PTA needs

Pricing

• Plans:
  • Free Forever: $0
  • Pro: $15/month (billed annually)
  • Team: $35/month (billed annually)
  • Partner: Custom
• Card fee 3.95% + $0.95 on free plan; 3.59% + $0.59 on paid plans
• eCheck fee:
  • Not available on the free plan
  • 1.59% (minimum $1.00) on Pro
  • Flat $0.95 on Team and Partner
• Standard bank withdrawals are free; instant withdrawals are 1.95% (minimum $1.00)

Best use cases

• PTAs collecting dues, fees, and event payments
• Schools selling spirit wear or tickets with forms attached

Caveat: Cheddar Up centers on payment collection, so its donor and fundraising tools are lighter than those on donation-first platforms.

8. PledgeStar

PledgeStar is pledge-drive software built for schools, teams, and booster clubs. It is made for a-thon events like jog-a-thons, read-a-thons, and walk-a-thons.

Each student gets a personal page to share with family and friends. For online school fundraisers, it sticks to pledge drives, not ticketing, stores, or year-round giving.

Key features

• A personal pledge page for every participant
• Per-repetition pledges, like per lap or per minute read
• Automated emails, texts, reminders, and thank-yous
• Donor fee coverage option and corporate donation matching
• Translation into 50+ languages and a classroom leaderboard

Pricing   

Two plans: 

• Free plan
  • 0% platform fees
  • Standard card processing charged
  • Donors can choose to add a contribution to the platform
• Paid plan
  • Charges 7% on online donations, capped at $1,195 per event
  • Donors can optionally cover platform and card fees

Note: Using your own PayPal or Stripe account is available on the 7% plan only

Best use cases

• Schools and teams running pledge-based a-thon events
• Groups that want capped, predictable fundraiser costs

Caveat: PledgeStar is built for pledge drives, so it does not handle tickets, stores, dues, or ongoing donations.

9. DonorsChoose

DonorsChoose is a nonprofit where U.S. public school teachers post classroom project requests that donors fund. It works like crowdfunding for schools, but at the classroom level.

It is not a PTO fundraising tool. A teacher uses it to get books, supplies, or tech. DonorsChoose generally purchases and fulfills approved resources rather than providing unrestricted PTO cash.

Key features

• Free for eligible US public and charter school teachers
• Teachers build projects from a vendor catalog
• Classroom Essentials for quick, basic supply requests
• Every project is hand-screened before going live
• Materials bought and shipped directly to the school

Pricing

• Free for teachers to post a project
• Donors are asked for an optional 15% contribution to DonorsChoose
• A $30 flat fulfillment fee covers ordering and shipping per project
• Each project lists materials, taxes, and processing in the budget

Best use cases

• Public and charter school teachers funding specific classroom needs
• Educators wanting materials funded without going through the PTO

Caveat: DonorsChoose projects can only be created by eligible school staff, so PTO and PTA members cannot post one in their volunteer capacity.

10. Bloomerang

Bloomerang is a donor management CRM with built-in fundraising and giving tools. It is aimed at nonprofits that want to track donors and improve retention over time. Among fundraising software for schools, it is one of the more CRM-focused options.

For schools, it suits a foundation or large booster program with ongoing donors. Bloomerang is a full donor-management system, which is more than most small PTOs running one annual fundraiser need.

Key features

• Donor database with engagement scoring and retention analytics
• Online giving forms, events, and peer-to-peer (Bloomerang Fundraising)
• Email marketing and reporting tools
• Unlimited users on every plan
• Volunteer and membership management add-ons

Pricing

• Bloomerang CRM: Starts at $125/month (billed annually)
• Bloomerang Volunteer: Starts at $119/month (billed annually)
• Bloomerang Fundraising: Starts at $40/month (requires bundling with Bloomerang CRM)
• Bloomerang Giving: Combines CRM, Volunteer, and Fundraising. Contact sales for pricing.

Best use cases

• School foundations or districts building long-term donor relationships
• Larger booster programs that need a real donor CRM

Caveat: Bloomerang is a paid CRM, so it is heavier and costlier than most PTOs running occasional fundraisers will want.

How to choose the right fundraising platform?

The right platform usually comes down to four questions: what you are raising for, how often you fundraise, your budget for fees, and how tech-comfortable your volunteers are.

Answer those, and the field narrows fast. Most fundraising platforms for schools shine in one lane, so match the tool to the job below.

A few rules of thumb help once you scan the table:

• If funding is tight, start with the free online fundraising sites for schools, where donors cover the fees.
• If volunteers turn over often, pick simple online school fundraisers with a guided setup.

When several needs apply, lean toward range. That is where all-in-one fundraising platforms for schools like DoJiggy earn their spot, covering many of the rows above from one login.

Schools that have raised more with DoJiggy’s all-in-one fundraising platform

Real results tell the story better than promises. Here are real schools and PTAs that raised more using DoJiggy.

STM School powered its “Rock N Run”

STM School ran its Rock N Run on DoJiggy and called the platform critical to its success. Uploading class lists, running reports, and building the website were all simple, and families had only praise.

Mount Madonna School ran its best campaign yet

Mount Madonna School called its DoJiggy event the most successful fundraising campaign to date. The staff pointed to strong reporting, easy registration, and fast, helpful support.

6 traps to avoid before you pick a platform

Even careful groups slip up when comparing fundraising platforms for schools. Here are the mistakes to dodge:

1. Believing “free” is always free: Some free fundraising platforms for schools add a tip to each donation. The box is pre-checked, so donors pay extra without realizing it. 
2. Looking at one fee and missing the other: Most tools charge a platform fee and a card processing fee. A low platform fee can still cost you a lot once card fees are added in.
3. Buying more tools than you need: A small PTO rarely needs a full donor management system for one annual event.
4. Forgetting your volunteers: The best fundraising platforms for schools are useless if your treasurer cannot set them up.
5. Picking one trick for a year of needs: A pledge-only tool stalls when you also want tickets, dues, or a store.
6. Forgetting the students: Strong fundraising sites for students give each child a shareable page, which raises far more.

So list your needs first, then shortlist. That habit alone puts you ahead of most online school fundraisers.

Avoid these traps, and the right fundraising platforms for schools become easy to spot.

Make school fundraising simple with the right tool

Whatever you are raising funds for, a few habits make every campaign easier.

Set a clear goal and tell families exactly what it funds. People are likely to give more when they clearly see how their donation will be used. 

Make giving take seconds, not minutes. Offer text and QR options, ask once, and always thank your donors fast.

Most of all, match your tool to your plan. The best online fundraising platforms for schools are the ones that match how your group works.

That is where DoJiggy’s zero-fee fundraising platform stands out. It runs your a-thons, auctions, tickets, raffles, and stores from one free login, so you are ready for any fundraiser the year brings.

List your needs, then give it a try. Pick well, and every dollar goes further for your students.

FAQs on fundraising platforms for schools

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