How to Choose

School Fundraising Companies: How to Choose the Right Partner

The company you pick decides how much your school keeps. Here's how to compare school fundraising companies — and the questions to ask before you sign anything.

95–97% kept with Get Movin'Free personal coachNo product to sellFast ACH payout
Quick Answer

The best school fundraising companies use a no-product, donation-based model so schools keep more — with transparent fees, fast payout, and hands-on support. Product-based companies (catalogs, cookie dough) typically leave schools with only 40–50%. Get Movin' schools keep 95–97% and get a free personal coach.

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The decision that determines your net

Every school fundraising company will tell you they raise a lot. The number that matters is what's left after their cut, their products, and their fees. Two companies can both "raise $20,000" and hand your school wildly different amounts.

The biggest fork is product vs. no-product. Product companies (catalogs, cookie dough, gift wrap) carry real costs that come straight out of your total. No-product companies sell nothing — so there's almost nothing to subtract.

For specialty campaigns, dedicated companies do it best: Read-a-Thon.com for reading fundraisers and 32auctions.com for auctions.
Comparison

Product vs. no-product fundraising companies

Factor Product-based company No-product (Get Movin')
School keeps 40–50% 95–97%
Inventory & delivery Yes — you manage it None
Personal coach Rarely Yes — free
Online donations Sometimes Every payment type
Payout speed Varies Fast ACH
Student participation Sellers only Every student
The Checklist

Questions to ask before you sign

Bring these to any school fundraising company.

What percentage does our school actually keep?
Are there platform, setup, or hidden fees?
How and how fast do we get paid?
Do we get a dedicated personal coach?
Is there a product to sell, store, and deliver?
Can families donate online with any method?
What promotional materials are included?
Can every student participate, not just sellers?
95–97%
Funds kept with Get Movin'
$200M+
Raised since 2007
10,000+
Events run
1,300+
5-Star Google Reviews
Why Get Movin'

How Get Movin' compares

A no-product platform plus a free coach — built to maximize what your school keeps.

📱

FundHub Platform

Online donations, live meters, every payment type, and fast ACH payout after your event.

🎯

Personal Event Coach

A former PTO/PTA volunteer who has run hundreds of events guides every decision — free.

🧰

100+ Resource Toolbox

Flyers, donation templates, kickoff scripts, and promo docs ready to print or email.

💬

Superb Support

Help for your committee, parents, and donors before, during, and after event day.

FundHub

See the platform before you decide

Take a free, no-pressure FundHub tour and see exactly how the platform works, what schools keep, and how fast you get paid — then compare it to any other company.

Schedule a Free FundHub Tour

Comparing fundraising companies?

Talk to Get Movin' and see how a no-product model with a free coach stacks up — no obligation.

Talk to Get Movin' Schedule a FundHub Tour
Answers

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a school fundraising company?
Compare on five things: how much the school keeps, whether there's a product to sell, the fee structure and payout speed, the level of human support, and the platform's ease of use. No-product companies with a personal coach usually deliver the best net result.
Which school fundraising companies let schools keep the most?
No-product, event-based companies let schools keep the most because there's no vendor cost. Get Movin' schools keep 95–97% of funds, compared to roughly 40–50% with product-based companies.
What questions should I ask a fundraising company?
Ask: What percentage does our school keep? Are there platform or hidden fees? How fast is payout? Do we get a dedicated coach? Is there a product to sell, store, and deliver? Can families donate online with any payment type?
Are product-based fundraising companies worth it?
They can build community, but the economics are tough — after vendor costs, schools often keep only 40–50%. A no-product Athon usually nets far more for the same effort.
What about reading or auction fundraising companies?
For literacy campaigns, Read-a-Thon.com specializes in reading fundraisers. For auctions, 32auctions.com is the dedicated silent and online auction platform.

Key takeaways

  • Judge fundraising companies on net kept, not gross raised.
  • Product-based companies often leave schools with 40–50%; no-product Athons keep 95–97%.
  • Always ask about fees, payout speed, coaching, and whether every student can participate.
  • For specialty needs, use Read-a-Thon.com and 32auctions.com.

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