ScanRaise vs Boosterthon
A transparent flat-2.5% self-serve platform you run yourself, versus a done-for-you on-campus fun run event run by Booster staff.
The short version
Boosterthon is a genuine fit for elementary and K-8 schools that want a hands-off, on-campus fun run with Booster staff, prizes, and a character curriculum, accepting that pricing is quoted by sales and that Booster collects and then distributes the funds. ScanRaise wins for groups that want to run their own fun run or athon year-round at a transparent flat 2.5%, with money flowing straight into their own Stripe account because ScanRaise does not hold those funds when Stripe is connected. Choose by whether you want a managed event or self-serve control over cost, timing, and funds.
The core difference is who keeps the money and who does the work. With ScanRaise, your organization connects its own Stripe account, so donations land directly in your own bank account and ScanRaise does not hold or disburse those funds when Stripe is connected. You pay a flat 2.5% platform fee, with no setup fees, monthly fees, or contracts (Stripe's standard processing of 2.9% + $0.30 applies separately, and a donor-cover-fees checkbox lets givers absorb it). All facts as of mid-2026.
Boosterthon (by Booster, boosterthon.com) is a full-service, done-for-you on-campus fun run event: Booster staff run the event, bring prizes and run formats like Fun Run, Color/Glow, and DanceFit, provide the MyBooster donation platform, and bundle a character-education curriculum. Booster advertises that schools keep about 95% on average, but the exact rate is sales-gated and the vendor does not publish a percentage; the fee varies by service tier (Full Service, Shared, Support). Booster collects the funds and then distributes them to the school.
If you want a hands-off event with staff on campus and a curriculum, Boosterthon is a genuine fit, especially for elementary and K-8 schools. If you want to run your own fun run or athon year-round at a known flat rate while keeping your money in your own account, ScanRaise is built for that.
| Area | ScanRaise | Boosterthon |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Flat 2.5% platform fee, no setup, monthly, or contract (Stripe processing separate; donor-cover-fees option) | Advertised ~95% kept on average; exact rate is sales-gated and not published, varies by service tier (as of mid-2026) |
| Service model (self-serve vs full-service event) | Self-serve software; set up a campaign yourself in about 2 minutes, no credit card | Full-service, done-for-you on-campus event run by Booster staff with prizes and curriculum |
| Who holds the funds | Org connects its own Stripe account; money goes straight to the org's bank, ScanRaise does not hold those funds when Stripe is connected | Booster collects the funds and then distributes them to the school |
| Athon activity verification | Phone-browser GPS distance tracking, a browser step counter, and per-unit pledges. Participants can optionally connect Fitbit, select a day, review the daily summary of steps, distance, and active minutes, and choose whether to import it. | On-campus fun run formats (Fun Run, Color/Glow, DanceFit); no GPS or wearable verification documented |
| Who it is for / when you can use it | Groups running their own fun run or athon year-round, anytime | K-12 with an elementary/K-8 skew; event-centric, scheduled around a managed fun run |
Comparison based on publicly available information as of mid-2026. Pricing and features on other platforms change often, and some vendors do not publish pricing; please confirm current details on Boosterthon’s own website before deciding.
Where Boosterthon fits
- You want a true done-for-you event: Booster staff come on campus and run the fun run so volunteers do not have to.
- Your school is elementary or K-8 and wants the prizes, run formats (Fun Run, Color/Glow, DanceFit), and energy of a managed event day.
- You value the bundled character-education curriculum that Booster pairs with the fundraiser.
- You prefer a hands-off event with a partner managing logistics over running the fundraiser yourself.
Why schools pick ScanRaise
- Transparent flat 2.5% platform fee with no setup fees, monthly fees, or contracts, so you know your cost up front (as of mid-2026).
- Connected Stripe campaigns send donations through the organization's Stripe account. Approved platform campaigns receive monthly payouts by check or ACH.
- Run your own fun run or athon year-round, not just on one scheduled event day, with self-serve setup in about 2 minutes and no credit card required.
- Real athon tracking: phone-browser GPS distance tracking, a browser step counter, and per-unit pledges per lap, page, or mile. Participants can optionally connect Fitbit, select a day, review the daily summary of steps, distance, and active minutes, and choose whether to import it.
- K-12 ready and all-in-one: an SDPC resource listing, controls designed to support COPPA and FERPA obligations, Clever and ClassLink SSO, a full Spanish site, plus P2P, ticketing, auctions, raffles, a merch store, donor CRM, and recurring giving.
ScanRaise vs Boosterthon: FAQ
What does each one cost?
ScanRaise charges a flat 2.5% platform fee with no setup fees, monthly fees, or contracts; Stripe's standard processing (2.9% + $0.30) applies separately as on any online payment, and a donor-cover-fees checkbox lets givers absorb it. Boosterthon's pricing is sales-gated: Booster advertises that schools keep about 95% on average, but the exact rate is not published and varies by service tier (Full Service, Shared, Support). To get Booster's number for your event you contact their sales team. All figures as of mid-2026.
Who holds the money, and how does our group get paid?
With ScanRaise, your organization connects its own Stripe account, so donations go straight to your own bank account; ScanRaise does not hold or disburse those funds when Stripe is connected. With Boosterthon, Booster collects the funds during the event and then distributes them to the school. If keeping your money in your own account from the start matters to you, that is a structural difference between the two.
We have used Boosterthon before. Can we switch and still run a fun run?
Yes. ScanRaise has built-in athons, including phone-browser GPS distance tracking, a browser step counter, and per-unit pledges (per lap, page, or mile), so you can run your own fun run or walkathon. Participants can optionally connect Fitbit, select a day, review the daily summary of steps, distance, and active minutes, and choose whether to import it. The main change is the model: instead of Booster staff running a managed event day, you set up and run the campaign yourself in about 2 minutes, and you can run it year-round rather than only on a scheduled event.
Which one is the better choice for our school?
Boosterthon may fit if you want a managed on-campus event. ScanRaise may fit if you want to run your own fundraiser year-round at a transparent flat 2.5%, choose connected Stripe or approved monthly platform payouts, and use its broader fundraising toolset. Verify current services before deciding.
What K-12 student-data controls does ScanRaise document?
Yes. ScanRaise is listed in the SDPC resource registry and provides controls designed to support COPPA and FERPA obligations. It also supports Clever and ClassLink SSO for teachers, with a full Spanish site. Schools still must evaluate agreements, notices, configuration, and legal requirements for their use of student-linked data. Boosterthon serves K-12 with an elementary/K-8 skew; it does not document Clever or ClassLink SSO or offer a Spanish option as of mid-2026.
Try ScanRaise free
Set up your first campaign in about 2 minutes. Flat 2.5%, no contract, no app. Connected Stripe campaigns receive funds through the organization's Stripe account; approved platform campaigns receive monthly payouts.
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