Fun Run & Color Run Fundraising
Raise 50% More.
No Platform Fees.
Turn your school's Fun Run or Color Run into a high-energy fundraiser families actually look forward to. PledgeStar makes it fast to set up, fun to run, and easy to raise more with zero platform fees.
No upfront cost. No commitment.
A Format That Fits Every School
Thousands of schools choose PledgeStar because it adapts to any Fun Run or Color Run format. Here are the most popular ways schools bring theirs to life.
Color Run
- Color Powder Stations
- Wear White
Classic Fun Run
- Flat Donations
- Non-Competitive
Obstacle Fun Run
- Stations & Challenges
- Team Spirit
Glow Run
- Evening Event
- Glow Gear
Family Fun Walk
- All Ages Welcome
- Stroller Friendly
Build Your Own
- Custom Theme
- Custom Goals
Ready, Set, Run!
Join the fun and help your school raise more, one colorful lap at a time.
A Fun Run is a non-competitive event where students walk or run a set course to raise money for their school, usually through flat donations rather than per-lap pledges. A Color Run adds an extra layer of excitement: volunteers and staff toss color powder on participants at stations along the course, so everyone crosses the finish line covered head to toe in bright color.
Both formats promote physical activity, build school spirit, and give every student an easy way to participate, no experience or athletic ability required. Because the emphasis is on fun rather than speed, Fun Runs and Color Runs work well for schools of every size and every grade level.
- Non-competitive, all-ages event
- Flat donation pledges, easy for every family
- Color stations add energy and excitement
- Great for field days, spirit weeks, and season kickoffs
After entering your event details, share the registration page with your families so they can create their own personalized fundraising pages. The personalized invitations invite friends and family to donate by email, text, and social media, each with a secure link for flat donations. PledgeStar grows your donor pool, simplifies collection, and offers easy reporting so you can focus on the fun.
Promote the Event
Spreading the word about your Fun Run or Color Run genuinely impacts its success, and PledgeStar makes promotion easy. Families mobilize friends and relatives with customizable emails and social media sharing options, improving your event's visibility and encouraging more participation and contributions.
Raise Money
Participants raise money by collecting pledges before, during, and after the event. With PledgeStar's easy-to-use platform, parents and students track donations in real time, keeping the excitement and momentum high.
Run!
The Fun Run or Color Run creates a sense of community and celebration. Every lap, every splash of color, and every donation gets your school closer to its goal.
Receive Donations
Donations are made directly into your school's own account and processed by your credit card processor, so there's no waiting on PledgeStar to release your funds. Easy reporting and real-time tracking help you stay on top of every donation.
A well-planned Fun Run or Color Run keeps students safe, engaged, and excited to raise money. Here are the key details to plan for.
Course and Duration
Most Fun Runs take place on the school's track, field, or playground, and typically last twenty to thirty minutes per grade level or class group. Schools often stagger start times by age group so the course does not get overcrowded and every student has room to move safely.
Color Stations
For a Color Run, set up several color stations along the course staffed by volunteers, teachers, or PTA members. Use color powder labeled safe for skin and clothing, and remind families that participants should wear old white or light-colored shirts they do not mind getting stained.
Safety Guidelines
Keep participants hydrated, especially on warm days, and have water stations available along the route. Students with asthma or respiratory sensitivities should be given the option to walk instead of run, and organizers should have a plan for extreme heat or weather delays.
Incentives
Offering prizes for top fundraisers, most spirited costume, or best-decorated grade level encourages greater participation and keeps the energy high throughout the event.
Streamlined Setup
PledgeStar offers a quick and seamless setup process, so your school can start fundraising in no time. Our platform guides you through every step, from creating the event page to managing donations, so you can focus on making your Fun Run or Color Run a success.
Customizable Fundraising Pages
Each student creates a personalized fundraising page with unique messages, photos, and progress updates. This personal touch helps participants connect more effectively with their supporters.
Reach Non-English Speakers
With support for over 50 languages, family, friends, and neighbors can easily donate and participate in your fundraiser, regardless of where they live or what language they speak.
Transparent and Capped Fees
You choose the plan that fits your event. Go FREE and pay nothing to use the platform, with donors able to add a small amount at checkout to help cover costs. Or choose our standard plan, with a low 7% fee that never exceeds a $1,195 cap, and let donors cover that fee through Donor Fee Coverage so your school keeps 100% of what's raised. Either way, funds deposit directly into your own account right away, so you never wait for funds to be released.
Real-Time Tracking and Reporting
Track donations and participation in real time with PledgeStar's reporting tools. Schools can monitor individual and overall fundraising progress, making it easy to recognize top performers and keep the community updated on the event's success.
Promotional Tools
PledgeStar provides social media integration, text messages, and email templates to help you spread the word about your Fun Run or Color Run. These tools make sharing pages simple and encourage more people to donate.
Increased Participation
PledgeStar's accessible, easy-to-use system helps more students and parents participate. A simplified setup and user-friendly platform help schools boost engagement and raise more.
Simplified Donation Process
Making a donation has never been easier. PledgeStar offers a hassle-free process that lets supporters give online in just a few clicks.
Comprehensive Support
Our team supports your Fun Run or Color Run every step of the way, from setup to troubleshooting, so your event runs smoothly and successfully.
Ever wonder how to boost your school fundraising efforts in a fun and colorful way? PledgeStar transforms your Fun Run or Color Run, making it easier than ever to raise money. Our platform simplifies the entire fundraising process, so schools can focus on excitement and community while maximizing donations. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or student, PledgeStar's easy-to-use system ensures a smooth and successful fundraising experience for everyone.
- Easy-to-set-up fundraising pages
- Personalized pledge requests
- A simplified donation process
- Real-time tracking
- Social sharing and engaging promotional tools
- Non-competitive, inclusive format for every student
PledgeStar helps maximize fundraising while boosting event participation and management. It makes donation collection easy and efficient, leading to higher overall contributions. With PledgeStar, your Fun Run or Color Run stays a super-successful, colorful, and stress-free event for you and your school.
Keep More of
What You Raise
Choose the option that fits your fun run or color run best. With the PledgeStar FREE, you're live in minutes and pay nothing to use PledgeStar. You keep everything raised minus standard credit card processing fees, and supporters can optionally add a small extra amount at checkout to help keep it free.
Prefer our standard plan instead? It carries a 7% fee, capped at $1,195 per event. With Donor Fee Coverage, sponsors can optionally cover that fee along with processing at checkout, so your event keeps 100% of every donation at $0 out of pocket.
Everything Your School Needs
Raise 50% More
Schools using PledgeStar consistently raise more through easy, fun outreach by automated email, text, and social media.
Fee Plans Built for Schools
Choose the free plan or our standard plan with Donor Fee Coverage, whichever fits your event best. See pricing details →
Running a different kind of event? Explore our Jog-A-Thon, Walk-A-Thon, Read-A-Thon, Anything-A-Thon, or Pledge Drive pages.
Effortless Setup
Launch your campaign in minutes. Families enter names and contacts, and our platform sends emails, texts, and social posts for them.
Personalized Pages for Every Student
Every student gets a personalized fundraising page to share with friends and family via text, email, and social media.
Reach Every Family, Any Language
With over 50 language options, families and friends near and far can participate and donate, no matter where they are.
World-Class Support
A dedicated specialist guides you through every step, from setup to launch to your final event report.
3 Simple Steps to Game-Changing Results
Your site goes live instantly. Send families the registration link and they follow simple on-screen instructions to enter their supporters.
Friends and family follow the link they receive, enter an amount, and pay securely with cards, digital wallets, and more. All major payment methods supported.
Log in any time to monitor your fundraiser's progress with our easy event overview dashboard and reports.
What Schools Are Saying
"PledgeStar made fundraising effortless, not just for us, but for our families too. It was easy to set up, intuitive to use, and powerful in results. We raised over $40,000 and didn't have to give nearly half of it away like we did before."
"PledgeStar completely transformed our jog-a-thon. What used to raise $17,000 now brings in over $85,000, without third-party vendors taking a massive cut. It is incredibly easy for parents and grandparents, and we keep 100% of the money for our school."
"PledgeStar was a game-changer for our school. Families tapped into relatives and friends across the country, and even overseas. We more than doubled our fundraising, jumping from $32,000 to nearly $60,000, and kept almost every dollar."
How to Raise 2x More
for Your Fun Run
Get the expert tips used by thousands of schools to boost participation, raise more, and keep more for classrooms and programs.
It's absolutely free. No commitment required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can donors give from out of town or internationally?
Is there support available if I get stuck?
What if a family has multiple students participating?
Is a Fun Run or Color Run competitive?
Can we offer prizes for top fundraisers?
Start Raising in Minutes
With no platform fees. Tell us a bit about your school and we'll take it from there.
Why Schools and Teams Choose PledgeStar
Thousands of groups trust PledgeStar to run their "a-thon" fundraisers with less work and bigger results, all without paying platform fees.
- No platform fees, ever. Donors can optionally help cover costs.
- Automated emails and texts do the asking for you.
- Real-time dashboard to track every donation as it comes in.
- Dedicated support team to help you launch and grow.