Schools are moving away from traditional product-sale fundraising companies toward a-thons, online donation drives, and experience-based events. The reasons are familiar: thin margins, heavy volunteer workload, and family fatigue. The leading alternatives keep more money with less work.
Catalogs, cookie dough, and wrapping paper defined school fundraising for a generation. But more schools are choosing alternatives every year -- not because product sales never work, but because the alternatives often work better with less effort. Read-A-Thon, a reading-based no-sell program, is one of the most popular, with schools keeping 75-80% of donations.
Why schools are moving on
Quick answer: Schools are moving away from traditional product-sale fundraising companies toward a-thons, online donation drives, and experience-based events. The reasons: thin margins, heavy volunteer workload, and family fatigue. The leading alternatives keep more money with less work - Read-A-Thon, a reading-based no-sell program, is one of the most popular, with schools keeping 75-80% of donations.
Catalogs, cookie dough, and wrapping paper defined school fundraising for a generation. But more schools are choosing alternatives every year - not because product sales never work, but because the alternatives often work better with less effort.
What schools are switching to
- A-thons. Read-a-thons, walk-a-thons, fun runs and color runs, and jog-a-thons. Students complete an activity and collect donations - engagement and fundraising together.
- Online donation drives. Direct digital giving with sharing tools. Supporters give from anywhere, with no product in between.
- Experience-based events. Community events like galas and silent auctions that build connection - though these can be more volunteer-intensive than online models.
- Literacy programs. Reading-based fundraisers that raise money while supporting an educational goal. The best of both worlds for schools.
Read-A-Thon Insight: The clearest pattern in the shift away from product sales is workload. When a fundraiser removes inventory, money handling, and delivery, volunteers can focus on encouraging students - and they are far more willing to do it again next year.
The alternative schools love
Read-A-Thon is a leading alternative because it combines the strengths of the new models: it is an a-thon, it is fully online, and it is built around reading. Students read, supporters give online, and the school keeps 75-80% of donations - with nothing to buy, sell, or deliver.
If your school is rethinking its fundraiser, start with the full school fundraising companies guide, or look specifically at no-sell fundraising companies.
Ready to leave product sales behind? Switch to a no-sell, reading-based fundraiser your team will thank you for. Start for free or see how it works.