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 never holds it. 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 never holds or disburses your funds. 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 never holds it | Booster collects the funds and then distributes them to the school |
| Athon activity verification | GPS-verified walkathons, step counting, Strava and Fitbit sync, per-unit pledges | 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).
- Your organization keeps its own money: connect your own Stripe account and donations land directly in your bank, ScanRaise never holds or disburses the funds.
- 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 verification: GPS-verified walkathons, step counting, Strava and Fitbit sync, and per-unit pledges per lap, page, or mile.
- K-12 ready and all-in-one: SDPC registered, COPPA and FERPA compliant, 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 never holds or disburses your funds. 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 GPS-verified walkathons, step counting, Strava and Fitbit sync, and per-unit pledges (per lap, page, or mile), so you can run your own fun run or walkathon. 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 is the better pick if you want a done-for-you on-campus event with staff, prizes, run formats, and a character-education curriculum, especially at the elementary or K-8 level. ScanRaise is the better pick if you want to run your own fundraiser year-round at a transparent flat 2.5%, keep funds in your own account, and have an all-in-one toolset (P2P, ticketing, auctions, raffles, merch, donor CRM, email).
Is ScanRaise safe for K-12 student data and compliance?
Yes. ScanRaise is SDPC registered, COPPA and FERPA compliant, and supports Clever and ClassLink SSO for teachers, with a full Spanish site. Its K-12 posture is about compliance and secure sign-on, not collecting student 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.
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