Fundraising, explained by the people running it
Setting up an account, what to expect once you're live, and the practical questions every role actually asks — written for the administrator approving it, the coach running it, the volunteer trying to raise money, and the donor deciding whether to give.
The payout question every admin asks first
Every fundraising platform pitch sounds the same until someone asks where the money actually lands, how fast, and who can see what. Those three questions are the whole approval decision.
Running a walk-a-thon without a shoebox of pledge sheets
Pledge-per-unit fundraising works — donors like paying for laps actually run, not just a flat ask — but the old version means weeks of paper chasing after the event. Here's the version that doesn't.
Turning the team group text into a fundraiser
The families on your roster already have group texts and grandparents who'd give if they were asked directly. The job isn't finding more donors — it's making it effortless for the donors you already have access to.
Setting up FundDriveGo in one afternoon
The setup itself takes minutes. The waiting — for Stripe, then for a compliance review — is what actually determines your timeline. Here's the real sequence, so you're not stuck idle for either one.
What actually happens after you hit publish
The setup guide gets you to launch day. This is what the next few weeks actually look like — where to check progress, when money really shows up, and what's normal versus what needs your attention.
How donation platform fees actually work (and what to ask before you sign up for one)
Every fundraising platform charges something — the difference is whether you can say exactly what, before a parent asks you to explain it. Here's what to actually check.
Peer-to-peer vs. one shared team link: which actually raises more
Both models work. They work for different reasons, and picking the wrong one for your group is the most common reason a fundraiser undershoots its goal.
You got a text asking you to donate to a school fundraiser. Here's what to know before you tap the link.
A personal link from someone you actually know is different from a random online ask — but it's still fair to want to know where the money goes and what happens to your information before you give.
Do you need a 501(c)(3) to fundraise for a school team?
No — and that surprises most first-time organizers. Here's what actually determines whether your group can accept donations, and what changes if you do have nonprofit status.