How to Run a Walk-a-Thon Fundraiser

Each student will sign up as a participant in the fundraiser. Then, they can collect pledges individually by credit or debit card. You can also accept cash pledges, but be mindful of properly storing and tracking cash you collect.

If you are using FutureFund, you can record these pledges and they will automatically count towards the student’s total and the grand total for the fundraiser.

Before launching your fundraiser, confirm what records you need to collect from donors.

If you are using FutureFund, it’s easy for students to sign up, especially if their information is already in the system. You can bulk sign up entire grades or classes. All donor payments are automatically entered into the system, so you can instantly see each student’s total and the grand total.

To make your walk-a-thon accessible to everyone, including those with mobility issues, try and make sure your route is fully-paved. Sidewalk curbs can be tricky for those who use mobility aids, like walkers and wheelchairs, so a park with a continuous walking path makes it easier for everyone to participate.

If there are no parks like this in your area, plan an easy-to-follow circular route. It should be around your school, so it’s nearby for most students and their families.

Follow these steps for a successful walk-a-thon:

1. Before you start telling students and parents about the walk-a-thon, you should decide the following:
   • Distance
   • Route
   • Date
   • Theme
2. Hold the walk-a-thon on a weekend, either Saturday on Sunday.
3. Because walk-a-thons work best on the weekend, tell people about the fundraiser at least 1 month in advance, so they can add it to their schedule.
4. Choose a distance between 1 and 5 miles.
5. Plan a route around your school or a local park. Check with your town or city to see if you need a permit for this type of event.
6. Email participants a map of the route beforehand. It’s not a bad idea to have a few paper copies at the event too.
7. Give participants at least 2-3 hours to finish the walk. You’ll want to plan around lunchtime, so the event should start around 9:00 am or 1:00 pm.

Participants collect donations for participating in the walk-a-thon. Like other a-thons, walk-a-thons follow a peer-to-peer fundraising model, so you aren’t limited to gathering donations from only the participants.

Each walker 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 walk a set course around your school, town, or city.

One of the great things about a walk-a-thon is that you can customize it for your school’s needs. If you’re an elementary school, you’ll likely want to make the route shorter, so younger students can participate.

For junior high or high school students, you can look at making the course longer. Walk-a-thons aren’t a race, so no matter how long the course is, participants can take as long as they need to complete the walk.

Walk-a-thons are best held outside, so you’ll want to plan yours for a warm time of year. For most schools, this means holding your walk-a-thon in September, May, or June.

That’s the beauty of walk-a-thons; participants don’t need any special skills or equipment to participate. To make your walk-a-thon accessible for students and parents with limited mobility, make sure your course is fully paved, on wide paths, and not too long.

Walk-a-thons are great fundraisers for everyone involved. They’re easy to plan and easy to participate in. Plus, they help raise awareness for your causes, as the public will see a large group of people walking along your route.

FutureFund makes running a walk-a-thon easy for everyone. Easier for PTAs to run, for students and parents to participate, and for donors to donate.

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.

FutureFund makes it easy to track how the fundraiser is going. Easily view how much money has been raised and more with detailed reporting.

Each student will sign up as a participant in the fundraiser. Then, they can collect pledges individually by credit or debit card. You can also accept cash pledges, but be mindful of properly storing and tracking cash you collect.

If you are using FutureFund, you can record these pledges and they will automatically count towards the student’s total and the grand total for the fundraiser.

Before launching your fundraiser, confirm what records you need to collect from donors.

If you are using FutureFund, it’s easy for students to sign up, especially if their information is already in the system. You can bulk sign up entire grades or classes. All donor payments are automatically entered into the system, so you can instantly see each student’s total and the grand total.

Fundraising campaigns that accept online donations perform much better than fundraisers that only accept cash or check.

If you are using FutureFund, you can accept payments online. Donors are given a donation link and can pay by credit or debit card. Any cash donations can also be noted in the system to be collected later.

These rules are a great starting point for organizing your walk-a-thon.

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To participate in the walk-a-thon, you sign up through FutureFund by [date]. The walk-a-thon is on [date], so make sure you block it off in your calendar! And don’t forget to tell your family that you’re fundraising, so they can donate (ask your parents for help, so they can ask their friends and coworkers too!).

All donations will be collected through FutureFund through this link: [link].

Unsure of where to start? Use this sample student and parent messaging to get the ball rolling!

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Let’s get moving! On [date], [school name] will be hosting a walk-a-thon to help fundraise for [cause]. You can help by joining our walk!

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!

Let parents and supporters donate online with FutureFund’s online pledges. Try it out for free!

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Make your donation easily and instantly! Click this [link] to make your donation through secure credit or debit card payment.

If you prefer to donate by cash or check, just donate directly to the student you’re supporting. Thank you for your support!

You can do a walk-a-thon at any time of year and match it with upcoming holidays. In the fall, for example, you can do a turkey trot for Thanksgiving or a zombie walk for Halloween.

You’ve probably heard of a color run, and you can use the same theme for your walk-a-thon. They’re tons of fun and make for great photos once everyone is covered in flour paint.

Bubble walks are a fun alternative to color runs. Everyone gets covered in bubbles which are easy to wash away while still making for great photos.

Every student has a favorite TV show or movie. Encourage them to come dressed up as their favorite superhero, princess, or another character.

Really make your fundraiser stand out with neon outfits. It’s fun and easy for families to participate, plus, it keeps everyone safe and highly visible on your walking route.

There’s no better motivator than food. Incorporate food with a potluck or food truck frenzy after the walk.