How to Run a Lift-a-Thon Fundraiser
- Choose the date of your Lift-A-Thon three months before the event. Lift-A-Thons usually take place over a period of two weeks or so. Make sure you choose a date range that doesn't conflict with other school plans!
- Make sure your PTA coordinates with the school ahead of time to make sure the school gym is available, find volunteers to supervise the equipment, get insurance if necessary, and arrange custodial services.
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 Lift-A-Thon will support.
Perform background checks for any volunteers from outside the school who need to be present during the event (if required by your school).
- Event Coordinator: Oversees all planning, scheduling, and logistics for the Lift-A-Thon, ensuring everything runs smoothly on the day of the event.
- Registration Team: Handles check-in, distributes lift cards or pledge sheets, and verifies that student-athletes are signed up correctly.
- Fundraising Coordinator: Tracks pledges, manages online donation updates, and communicates with donors as results come in.
- Spotters & Safety Volunteers: Assist lifters during attempts to ensure proper form and safe execution of lifts.
- Judges/Scorekeepers: Record weights lifted, verify successful attempts, and tally results for each participant.
- Announcer/MC: Keeps the crowd engaged, announces lifters, and shares fundraising updates throughout the event.
- Cheer & Spirit Team: Organizes student and parent volunteers to cheer on lifters and create an energetic atmosphere.
- Refreshments Crew: Provides water and light snacks for athletes, coaches, and spectators.
- Photographer/Videographer: Captures highlight moments for school promotion, donor thank-yous, and future event marketing.
- Cleanup Crew: Helps reset the gym or weight room after the event, ensuring equipment and space are returned to normal use.
- Incentives motivate students to register for your Lift-A-Thon and collect pledges. Each student should have a specific fundraising goal (usually between $500"“$1000).
- It's better to offer incentives to the class or grade that raises the most money than to individual students, as this is a more cost-effective way to motivate groups and can also discourage unhealthy competition. Try prizes like extra gym time for the winning class for the best results.
Use FutureFund to create a Pledge-A-Thon campaign and provide your campaign details.
Make sure your campaign has the following elements:
- 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 Lift-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.
Here's a Canva template of sample Lift-A-Thon rules. Click “Use template for new design” to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!
- Send out an announcement of your Lift-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.
- The night before the first day of the event, send a final reminder to get the school community excited about the event and encourage them to keep offering support.
Subject: Raise the Bar at [School Name]'s Annual Lift-A-Thon!
Get ready to show your strength at our exciting Lift-A-Thon! This isn't just a day in the gym; it's your chance to set new personal records, raise funds for our school, and be part of an unforgettable community event.
Why participate in the Lift-A-Thon?
- Challenge yourself in the weight room and push for a new PR.
- Help raise funds for [insert cause or school project].
- Earn rewards and recognition for your lifting and fundraising efforts.
How to Sign Up:
It's easy to get involved! Just click on this link [insert FutureFund link], follow the simple registration steps, and you're ready to go. You'll also get a personal pledge page to share with friends and family so they can support your lifts.
Whether you're aiming for a new max or just want to have fun cheering with your classmates, this event is for everyone. Let's lift together for a great cause!
You can also use this Canva template to keep a copy of your email script handy. Click "Use template for new design" to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!
Subject: Your Support Powers Our Lift-A-Thon - Thank You!
Dear [Donor's Name],
Thank you so much for supporting our Lift-A-Thon! Your contributions are helping us provide a memorable experience for our students and fueling our fundraising goals for [insert specific goal or cause].
Current Update:
- student-athletes are signed up and training for the big day!
- We've already reached [percentage] of our fundraising goal.
- There's still time to pledge support through FutureFund at [insert link].
Your generosity keeps the momentum going and makes a real difference for our school community.
Thank you once again for being a crucial part of our school community. Your support is inspiring our students to do their best.
You can also use this Canva template to keep a copy of your email script handy. Click "Use template for new design" to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!
Subject: [School Name]'s Lift-A-Thon Starts Tomorrow - Get Ready to Lift Big!
Hello [Name of School] Students & Families!
The big day is almost here! Our Lift-A-Thon begins tomorrow, and we can't wait to see everyone come together to support our student-athletes.
Here's what you need to remember:
- Last chance to gather pledges! Encourage friends and family to support you through FutureFund at [insert link].
- Meet us in the [Location] on [Date]. Lifting starts at [Time], so arrive early to warm up and cheer on your classmates.
- Bring your energy and school spirit, and let's make this an event to remember!
Your support and encouragement are key to making the Lift-A-Thon a success. Let's finish strong and show what our school community can do!
You can also use this Canva template to keep a copy of your email script handy. Click "Use template for new design" to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!
Here are some Canva templates to help you spread awareness for your Lift-A-Thon on social media and in your community! Click "Use template for new design" to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!
- Canva Lift-A-Thon Template for Instagram Story
- Canva Lift-A-Thon Template for Instagram Post
- Canva Lift-A-Thon Template for Printable Poster
Example caption: Support [insert school name]'s Lift-A-Thon from [insert date]. Help our school community raise money for [insert cause] by registering to push for a good cause!
Ask local businesses to sponsor the Lift-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 or in the weight room with sponsor logos during the event.
- Offer branded water bottles, sweatbands, or other swag to participants.
- Add sponsors to your school's online store using FutureFund.
Here are some examples of sponsorships you can offer:
- Direct donations (either towards your fundraising goal or to help cover the costs of supplies).
- Corporate matching is where a business makes a donation equal to all or a portion of the funds you raise from the community.
- Selling sponsorships on FutureFund via advertising on your campaign page.
Unlike one-day fundraising events, Lift-A-Thons are best spread out over two weeks or so to give every student-athlete time to participate, gather pledges, and keep momentum strong.
Here's a sample schedule you can adapt to your school's calendar:
- Event Launch Assembly: Introduce the Lift-A-Thon to all students, explain how pledges work, and set fundraising goals.
- Registration Opens: Students sign up through FutureFund and receive their personal pledge links.
- Scheduled Lift Sessions: Classes or teams rotate through the weight room during PE or designated practice times.
- Volunteer Roles Active: Spotters, judges/scorekeepers, and cheer groups assist each session.
- Midweek Update: Share fundraising totals so far to keep energy high.
- Online Pledge Drive: Encourage families to share links over the weekend to bring in donations from extended networks.
- Social Media Highlights: Post photos or short videos of students lifting to keep supporters engaged.
- Continued Lift Sessions: Remaining classes and teams complete their lifting challenges.
- Daily Announcements: Recognize top fundraisers, lifters, and classes to encourage friendly competition.
- Donor Reminders: Send pledge reminders through FutureFund as the event nears completion.
- Last Lift Sessions: Students who haven't lifted yet finish their attempts.
- Recognition Assembly: Celebrate achievements like most pounds lifted, highest fundraising totals, and best team spirit.Recognition Assembly: Celebrate achievements like most pounds lifted, highest fundraising totals, and best team spirit.
- Announce Fundraising Total: Share the final number raised with the whole school.
- Thank You Messages: Send digital thank-yous to donors, volunteers, and participants.
- Incentive Delivery: Award the winning class or grade with their prize (e.g., spirit day, extra gym time).
- One Week After: Share highlights, photos, and a recap video with the school community.
- Two Weeks After: Hold a follow-up recognition activity (like a spirit rally or fitness challenge) to celebrate long-term impact.
A Lift-A-Thon is a popular a-thon type of fundraiser since they have very little overhead and are easy to run with existing school gym equipment. They can also be scheduled during school hours, which makes it easier for students to participate.
Treat these as a base and feel free to tailor them to suit your specific event.
The length of your Lift-A-Thon will largely be determined by the age and fitness level of your students. Typically, Lift-A-Thons will be held over the course of two weeks or so, which allows all participants to access the gym facilities.
It's usually a good idea to have volunteers in charge of scheduling participants at different times throughout the event window to prevent congestion and overcrowding.
Students can either pledge to lift a certain amount on a specific exercise, or lift a specific number of reps determined by pledges collected. It's best to seek out larger pledges if you're organizing your event on a PR-basis, and make donations more granular if you're having a reps-based Lift-A-Thon.
Lift-A-Thons are most appropriate for high school students, since this is usually around the age when they start to feel interested in working out and are responsible enough to use the equipment properly.
Start telling students about the Lift-A-Thon at least three weeks before it starts.
Students should be signed up in your fundraising system so they can gather donations for at least two weeks before the fundraiser starts (although it's still okay to take last-minute sign-ups).
On the day the fundraiser starts, be sure to re-explain the rules and encourage students to continue fundraising.
Yes - FutureFund lets you create a list of the volunteer positions you'll need to fill, then add a volunteer page to your registration portal so parents can sign up in just a few simple clicks. See the steps for signing up volunteers here.
FutureFund gives you the ability to generate financial reports for fundraising campaigns in just a few clicks. To do this, navigate to Store and click the Reports tab near the top of your screen. Then choose Campaign Summary from the drop-down menu and click Generate Report.
Participants collect donations for participating in the Lift-A-Thon. Like other a-thons, Lift-A-Thons follow a peer-to-peer fundraising model, so you aren't limited to gathering donations from only the participants.
Each participant asks their family, friends, and coworkers (or parents' coworkers) to donate, which gives you a huge donor pool compared to other fundraisers. From there, participants arrive at the school gym during their time slot and attempt to break the record they've committed to lifting.
Lift-A-Thons can be customized for each school's needs, but we recommend about two weeks to ensure everyone is able to find a time slot. Typically, you want every participant to have a 15-30 minute window so they can get set up and focus on their lift without feeling rushed.
Yes - FutureFund lets you create a list of the volunteer positions you'll need to fill, then add a volunteer page to your registration portal so parents can sign up in just a few simple clicks.
That's the beauty of Lift-A-Thons; participants don't need any special skills or equipment to participate! To make your Lift-A-Thon accessible for students and parents with limited mobility or accessibility needs, make sure to have volunteers on site to assist with the equipment.
Lift-A-Thons are great fundraisers for everyone involved. They're easy to plan and easy to participate in. To see how much you could raise, check out our High School Lift-A-Thon Case Study where one California school raised over $35,000 in a single event.
Schools that sign up get full access to all of FutureFund's features - it's always free and it always will be.
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
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
FutureFund makes running a Lift-A-Thon easy for everyone. Easier for PTAs and PTOs to run, for students and parents to participate, and for donors to donate.
Accept online donations
Instead of dealing with paper pledge forms and cash and cheques, FutureFund takes the process online. Donors can donate instantly online with their credit or debit cards.
A single tool to power your entire A-Thon!
FutureFund makes it easy to track how the fundraiser is going. Easily view how much money has been raised and more with detailed reporting.
Use these templates to keep your Lift-A-Thon planning on track:
Use these templates to keep your Lift-A-Thon planning on track:
Eligibility & Registration
- All students wishing to participate must be registered by [insert deadline].
- Parental consent is required for all participants under 18.
Pledge Collection
- Participants are encouraged to collect pledges based on total pounds lifted or a flat donation.
- All pledges must be recorded and collected through the official school fundraising platform (e.g., FutureFund).
Safety First
- Proper spotting is required for all lifts; participants must follow instructions from coaches and volunteer spotters.
- Only approved lifts (bench press, squat, deadlift, etc.) may be attempted.
- Participants must warm up before attempting their maximum lifts.
Attire & Equipment
- Athletic clothing and proper closed-toe gym shoes are required.
- Weight belts, wrist wraps, or chalk may be used if approved by event staff.
- No outside lifting equipment may be brought unless cleared by coaches.
Behavior Expectations
- Respectful and sportsmanlike behavior is expected from all participants and spectators.
- No taunting, unsafe lifting practices, or misuse of gym equipment will be allowed.
Check-In & Check-Out
- Participants must check in at the registration table before lifting.
- Scoresheets must be signed by an event judge to validate lifts.
- Students under a certain age must be picked up by a parent or guardian at the end of their session.
Health & Hydration
- Water and light snacks will be available throughout the event.
- If you feel unwell, dizzy, or in pain, stop lifting immediately and notify a volunteer or coach.
Litter & Facility Responsibility
- Keep the weight room and gym clean; dispose of trash in designated bins.
- All equipment must be returned to racks or storage after use.
Photography & Publicity
- Photographs or videos may be taken for school publicity purposes.
- Please notify event staff if you do not wish to be photographed.
Completion & Awards
- Each student may attempt up to [insert number] official lifts.
- Recognition will be given for categories such as highest total pounds lifted, most funds raised, and best team spirit.
Parent & Spectator Guidelines
- Parents and spectators are welcome to cheer but must stay in designated viewing areas.
- For safety, no spectators are allowed on the lifting floor.
Cancellation or Postponement
- In case of school closure or unforeseen circumstances, the Lift-A-Thon may be rescheduled or canceled.
- Information about changes will be communicated as early as possible.
Or, here's a Canva template of sample Lift-A-Thon rules. Click "Use template for new design" to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more! Canva Lift-A-Thon Rules Template
Unsure of where to start? Use this sample student and parent messaging to get the ball rolling!
Let's raise the bar for [School Name]! On [date], we'll be hosting a Lift-A-Thon to help fundraise for [cause]. You can help by pushing for a good cause!
Parents, each student will be collecting pledges online through FutureFund: [link]. Please spread the word to your family, friends, and coworkers to help make this fundraiser a success!
Use these Canva email script templates to call out for Lift-A-Thon participants, donations, and to keep your fundraiser top-of-mind. Click "Use template for new design" to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!
Canva Lift-A-Thon Student Sign-up Email Template
Use these Canva templates to help you spread awareness for your Lift-A-Thon on social media and in your community! Click "Use template for new design" to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!
Canva Lift-A-Thon Template for Instagram Story
Canva Lift-A-Thon Template for Instagram Post
Canva Lift-A-Thon Template for Printable Poster
Example caption: Support [insert school name]'s Lift-A-Thon from [insert date]. Help our school community raise money for [insert cause] by registering to break your permanent record for weight or reps!