Activity-Tracked Fundraising

The only fundraiser that proves they actually did it

Phone browser GPS and step counting remain the primary tracking paths. Participants can optionally connect Fitbit, select a day, review the daily summary of steps, distance, and active minutes, and choose whether to import it. Donors pledge per unit, and Stripe securely saves their cards without charging them. After eligible activity is finalized, ScanRaise attempts each capped charge. Failures remain visible for follow-up.

Start an Athon - Free

Walk-a-thon

Per-lap or per-mile pledges for walk events.

Run-a-thon

Track distance or laps for running events.

Swim-a-thon

Count laps in the pool, collect per-lap pledges.

Read-a-thon

Log pages or minutes read over a set period.

Math-a-thon

Pledge per problem solved in math challenges.

Dance-a-thon

Per-song or per-hour pledges for dance events.

Bike-a-thon

Track miles pedaled, collect per-mile pledges.

Jump-a-thon

Count jumps or minutes for jump rope events.

Climb-a-thon

Track elevation or routes for climbing events.

Spell-a-thon

Pledge per word spelled correctly.

Paddle-a-thon

Per-mile pledges for kayak or canoe events.

Anything-a-thon

Define your own unit and track anything.

Five ways to track activity

GPS distance tracking. Participant opens a web page on their phone. GPS tracks their route in real time. Distance calculated from coordinates. Speed-validated to catch cheaters.
Step counter. Opt-in motion sensor step detection using the phone's accelerometer. Works on iPhone and Android. No app download - just a web page.
Fitbit daily-summary import. For a supported distance or step campaign, the participant connects Fitbit, selects a day, reviews its summary of steps, distance, and active minutes, and chooses whether to import it.
Manual log. For read-a-thons, study-a-thons, math-a-thons. Students log pages, minutes, or counts daily on their phone. Donors pledge per unit. Same honor-system tracking as paper read-a-thons, just digital.
Organizer manual entry. For a sensor failure or another reviewed exception, an organizer can record a manual result in Athon Manager. Participant manual entry is available only when the campaign uses a manual unit.

Participants can optionally connect Fitbit, select a day, review the daily summary of steps, distance, and active minutes, and choose whether to import it.

Phone browser GPS and the phone step counter remain the primary paths. A timer or manual entry is available according to the campaign unit.

See it on a phone

This is exactly what participants see. Try the interactive demo →

Maplebrook Elementary PTA
Sarah M.
Walk-a-thon 2026
📍
Tracking: GPS Distance
Start Tracking
Start
Recording
1.24
miles
12:34
Excellent GPS
📍 GPS Path Active
Stop
Track

Activity Complete!

Miles1.24
Duration12:34
GPS points87
Path statusConsistent
ModeGPS
Submit Activity
Results

Activity Submitted!

1.24 miles recorded

Total: 3.54 miles

Verified
Verified

How it works

Create a campaign and pick your unit - miles, laps, pages, problems, minutes, or anything custom.
Donors visit the fundraiser's page and pledge per unit ("$2 per mile") or donate a flat amount.
Participants open the tracker in their phone browser and tap Start. Depending on the campaign unit, they use GPS distance tracking, the step counter, a timer, manual logging, or an optional participant-reviewed Fitbit daily-summary import.
Activity is checked server-side using speed analysis, GPS path consistency, and spoofing detection. Suspicious activity is flagged.
Stripe securely saves each sponsor's card at pledge time without charging it. After the organizer finalizes eligible activity, ScanRaise attempts each per-unit charge, never above the authorized maximum. Failed or authentication-required charges remain visible for follow-up.

What donors see

Donors choose flat donation or per-unit pledge. Both on the same page.

Maplebrook Elementary PTA
Sarah M.
Walk-a-thon 2026
Flat Donation
Pledge Per Mile
$
2.00
per mile
Maximum total (required)
50
Your name
Grandma Rose
Email (required)
grandma@email.com
Stripe securely saves your card. No charge today. After eligible miles are finalized, ScanRaise will attempt the charge, up to your maximum.
Continue to Secure Card Setup
Pledge Tab

Pledge Confirmed!

You pledged $2.00 per mile (max $50.00) to support Sarah M.

Stripe saved your card securely without charging it. After eligible miles are finalized, ScanRaise will attempt the charge, up to your authorized maximum.

Confirmation sent to grandma@email.com

Confirmed

Anti-cheat built in

Speed validation. GPS data is analyzed for impossible speeds. Walking is 2-4 mph. Driving is 15+. We flag anything suspicious.
Path validation. The server evaluates consecutive GPS points, timestamps, and accuracy to identify implausible routes.
GPS spoofing detection. We check for impossible teleportation, perfectly straight paths, and identical accuracy values that indicate fake GPS data.
Admin review. Every submission shows verified/suspicious/unverified status. Admins can view GPS maps and speed or path flags, and override any flag.

What admins see

Real-time dashboard with GPS maps, verification badges, charge status, and visible recovery steps for failed or authentication-required charges.

scanraise.com/admin-athon?campaign=walk-a-thon-2026
47.3
Total Miles
12
Pledges
$94
Calculated
$47
Collected
FundraiserMilesSourceStatus
Sarah M.3.54gpsverified
Jake R.2.10gpsverified
Emma L.5.20gpssuspicious
Coach A.1.80adminadmin_logged
📷

Phone tracking and optional Fitbit daily-summary imports

GPS distance
Step counter
Reviewed results
Fitbit daily summary

Participants select a day, review Fitbit's summary of steps, distance, and active minutes, and choose whether to import it.

All activity tracking is opt-in. The campaign unit determines the participant method. An organizer can record a manual result for review when a sensor fails.

Where ScanRaise fits

ScanRaise Typical fundraising platforms
Platform fee2.5% flatVaries widely, from tip-based to 20%+
Printable per-person QR cardsYesRarely included
Per-person trackingYesVaries
Events, merch, auctions, rafflesAll includedUsually separate tools
App requiredNoSome require an app

Based on public information. Feature sets on other platforms change, please verify on their own sites.

What people run with ScanRaise athons

School walkathon with GPS verification

Students walk laps around the school or neighborhood. GPS tracks their distance and route validation flags suspicious activity. Stripe securely saves sponsor cards without charging them. After eligible totals are finalized, ScanRaise attempts each capped charge and keeps failures visible for follow-up.

Swim-a-thon with reviewed lap totals

Volunteers or organizers review the completed laps and record each swimmer's total. Stripe securely saves sponsor cards without charging them. After eligible totals are finalized, ScanRaise attempts each capped per-lap charge and keeps failures visible for follow-up.

Classroom read-a-thon with per-page pledges

Students log pages or minutes read each day on their phone. Donors pledge per page or per minute. Teachers see a daily leaderboard, parents sign off the same way they would on a paper log.

Corporate step challenge

A company sets up a distance or step campaign. Employees use phone browser GPS, the phone step counter, or choose to import a reviewed Fitbit daily summary. The company pledges $1 per eligible unit and securely saves a card with Stripe without a charge at pledge time. After eligible totals are finalized, ScanRaise attempts the capped charge and keeps failures visible for follow-up.

Math-a-thon or spell-a-thon

Students complete problems or spelling words. Donors pledge per problem solved. Students enter their count and teachers can review.

Dance-a-thon or jump rope challenge

Participants dance or jump for a set time. The step counter or timer records the activity, and the organizer finalizes totals. Donors pledge per minute or per jump.

Trusted with school and donor data. ScanRaise is listed in the SDPC resource registry and provides parental-consent and student-data controls designed to support schools' COPPA and FERPA obligations, with Clever and ClassLink single sign-on for teachers. Compliance depends on each organization's configuration and use. Daily off-site encrypted backups and payments handled by Stripe. See how we protect your data or read about ScanRaise.

Ready to run an athon?

Create your campaign in 2 minutes. Pick your unit. Start tracking.

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