Darian Shimy
Published on Feb 15, 2022

How to Run a Jump-a-Thon Fundraiser

Jump-a-Thon fundraisers are great ways to raise money while also being active. See how a jump-a-thon works & what you’ll need to run one in our in-depth guide.
How to Run a Jump-a-Thon Fundraiser
The Step-by-Step Guide to Jump-a-Thon
1
Choose a Date & Theme
  • Choose the date of your Jump-A-Thon three months before the event. Jump-A-Thons usually take place on a single day, so choose one that doesn't conflict with other important events and plan for a time of year when people are unlikely to be away.
  • Make sure your PTA coordinates with the school ahead of time to make sure the gym will be available, or hold the event outside if you have an appropriate space and can expect good weather.
  • Consider a theme for your Jump-a-Thon, involving colors or costumes (see the "Themes" section of this page for ideas).
Jump-a-Thon Planning Infographic and Checklist
2
Call for Volunteers
  • Put out a call for volunteers two months before the event. Use FutureFund's built-in messaging system to reach the parents and volunteers most likely to participate.
  • Make sure your call for volunteers clearly states what cause or project the Jump-A-Thon will support.
  • Perform background checks for any volunteers who need to be on campus during the event (if required by your school).
Example Volunteer Positions for Jump-A-Thons
3
Choose Student Incentives
  • Incentives motivate students to register for your Jump-A-Thon and collect pledges. Each student should have a specific fundraising goal-usually between $200-$400.
  • It's better to offer incentives to the class or group that spends the most time jumping rope collectively than to individual students, as this is a more cost-effective way to motivate groups and can also discourage unhealthy competition. Try an ice cream social or a pizza party for the best results.
4
Create Your Jump-a-Thon's Campaign

Use FutureFund to create a Pledge-A-Thon campaign and provide your campaign details.

Make sure your campaign has the following elements:

  • A clear and compelling event description and rules, including what the money raised will go towards and what the incentives will be for participating students.
  • A leaderboard that shows the grades and teachers for each participating class, along with how much each has raised. These are fully customizable in FutureFund, so you can create custom categories for each Jump-a-Thon.
  • A template students can use to collect pledges from members of the school community. FutureFund provides a sample template for this in all A-Thon campaigns, which you can modify to include the specific details of your event.
5
Announce the Event & Sign-Up Students

Use FutureFund to create a Pledge-A-Thon campaign and provide your campaign details.

Make sure your campaign has the following elements:

  • A clear and compelling event description and rules, including what the money raised will go towards and what the incentives will be for participating students.
  • A leaderboard that shows the grades and teachers for each participating class, along with how much each has raised. These are fully customizable in FutureFund, so you can create custom categories for each Jump-A-Thon.
  • A template students can use to collect pledges from members of the school community. FutureFund provides a sample template for this in all A-Thon campaigns, which you can modify to include the specific details of your event.
  • Sample Jump-a-Thon Rules Template
    5
    Announce the Event & Sign-Up Students
    • Send out an announcement of your Jump-A-Thon to the school community two weeks before the event begins and request that students sign up to participate.
    • Share the news in as many places as possible-use the school newsletter, morning announcements, and FutureFund's messaging system to tell everyone why the event is important and how they can be part of it.
    • Use FutureFund to send follow-up messages every other day leading up to the event to encourage participation.
    • On the morning of the event, send out a final announcement to get the school community excited about the event and encourage them to keep offering support.
    Sample Email for Student Sign-Ups
    Sample Follow-Up Email to Donors
    Sample Email for the Final Week Before the Jump-a-Thon
    Templates for Promoting Your Jump-a-Thon
    6
    Find Sponsors

    Ask local businesses to sponsor the Jump-A-Thon. This can help your PTA reach your fundraising targets while business owners get exposure and positive PR.

    Make sure to explain how each sponsor's contribution will be recognized. For example, you could:

    • Hang a banner in the gym with sponsor logos during the event.
    • Offer branded water bottles or other swag to participants.
    • Add sponsors to your school's online store using FutureFund.
    Types of Sponsorship
    7
    Host the Jump-a-Thon

    Finally, the day of the event will arrive-and if you've followed all the steps above, you should have everything you need to make it a success. Here's a sample schedule:

    Morning Kickoff (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM)
    First Jumping Session (9:00 AM - 10:30 AM)
    Mid-Morning Break (10:30 AM - 11:00 AM)
    Second Jumping Session (11:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
    Lunch Break (12:30 PM - 1:30 PM)
    Afternoon Jumping Session (1:30 PM - 3:00 PM)
    Closing Ceremony (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
    Post-Event Activities (4:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
    Follow-Up (Next School Day)
    One Week After the Event
    Jump-a-Thon 101
    What is a Jump-a-Thon?

    A jump-a-thon is a popular a-thon type of fundraiser since they're easy and effective. It's easy for students and parents to participate since all they need is a jump rope to participate.

    It's also easy for PTAs to organize since it doesn't require a ton of planning. And it gets participants moving, which is always a win.

    Jump-a-Thon Goals & Rules

    Treat these as a base and feel free to tailor these to suit your specific event.

    Length of Time
    Jumping Goal
    Jumping Style
    Pledge Collection
    Confirm That Everyone Knows What to Do
    Frequently Asked Questions About Jump-a-Thons
    How do I use FutureFund to track my fundraiser's success?
    Can volunteers for my Jump-A-Thon sign up automatically through FutureFund?
    How does a jump-a-thon work?
    How long is a jump-a-thon?
    What do people need to participate?
    Are jump-a-thons good fundraisers?
    Join over the 2,000 schools using FutureFund
    Schools that sign up get full access to all of FutureFund's features—it's always free and it always will be.
    What is a “Thon”?
    Thon's Are Fun & Effective Event-Based Fundraisers

    An “a-thon” is a peer-to-peer style fundraiser that involves participating in a certain activity and gathering donations for participating in said activity.

    The activity can be almost anything, from reading to running to bowling. No matter what activity you choose, the premise is the same. Participants commit to doing the activity (reading a certain amount of books, running a certain distance) and ask their friends, family, and coworkers to support them.

    A-thons work great because you reach a huge donor pool through peer-to-peer fundraising. People are also more likely to donate since participants are “working” in return for the donations.

    What Do You Need to Run a Jump-a-Thon?
    Power it With FutureFund

    FutureFund's built-in pledge campaigns allow you to easily collect money and keep donations/pledges organized. Since parents cover payment processing fees, 100% of the funds raised go to your school!

    FutureFund is easy to use - for everyone
    Accept online donations
    A single tool to power your entire Thon!
    Using a Jump-a-Thon for Fundraising
    Managing and organizing pledges
    Donor information and donation management
    Make sure you accept online donations
    Jump-a-Thon Theme Ideas
    Holiday
    Space
    Color Jump
    Costumes
    Neon
    Old-Fashioned
    By Darian Shimy
    Darian Shimy is the founder and CEO of FutureFund Technology, a fundraising and selling platform for K-12 school groups. He has 25+ years in web-based technologies, managing engineering teams, and building products.
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