2009
70
$20,000
$60,000
$84,027
Yes
Founded in 2009 by our CEO Mike Bahun, Fundraising University is the top industry leader in school sports fundraising, having raised over $270M dollars while helping over 2,700 high schools across the US. Our success stems from our proven sales strategy, proprietary technology, on-going coaching and support, as well as our positive contribution and impact on local communities. Our franchise also offers low start up costs, proven documented systems, strong leadership, and exceptional unit-level economics.
Fundraising University encompasses a “Dream Big, Raise More” philosophy, working with athletes, coaches and organizations, providing our fundraising service that embodies our mission - to raise the maximum amount of money, in the shortest time possible, while alleviating the burden of fundraising from the coach.
Since our franchise inception in 2022, we have been awarded Best Franchise and Best Brand. We are also recognized as part of the Franchise 500, three years in a row, by Entrepreneur Magazine, with continued accolades to be awarded in 2025.
Fundraising University provides its franchise partners a strong, viable territory, unsurpassed training and coaching, top technology and tools, along with a proven system, with a repeatable revenue model (90% customer retention), requiring 0-1 initial employees, providing exceptional gross sales.
We provide a strong ROI for our franchisees through low start-up costs, a home-based office, and minimal operating costs. Franchising with Fundraising University is an under $100K investment, yielding a realistic six figure return potential in year one.
If the team can dream it, Fundraising University can bring that dream to life.
Competitive Advantages
1. Home-based business NO LEASES REQUIRED
2. Generate revenue within 60-90 days
3. Owner Operator
4. 0-1 Employees to Start
5. Robust franchisor support
6. Strong EBITDA 22% EBITDA per territory
7. Industry leader for high school sports fundraising
8. Leadership team with three-plus decades of fundraising experience
Top 5 Selling Points
1- Custom ERP to brand
2- Elite franchise marketing
3- High residual
4- Semi absentee model
5- Mental performance coaching
Established: 2009
First Unit Franchised: 2020
Franchised Units: 70
Company Owned Units: 11
States Registered In: We are registered in all of the continental United States, with the exception of Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Washington, North & South Dakota,Wisconsin, California, and Utah, Nebraska.
We are NOT taking leads in: Nebraska, Hawaii, and Alaska.
Canada Franchises: No
International Franchises: No
Cash Investment: $20,000+ liquid
Total Investment: $79,550 - $84,027
Minimum Net Worth: $100,000
Franchise Fee: $60,000
Unit 2 - $50,000
Unit 3 - $25,000
Unit 4+ - $25,000 (ea)
Royalty: 7.25%
Average Number of Employees: 0-1 to start
Item 19: Yes
Visa Candidates: No
Passive Ownership: No
Semi-Passive Ownership: Yes- Franchisee would bring on a rep at the time of training who will manage the territory on a day-to-day basis. This will allow the franchisee to treat the business as an investment working part-time.
Home Based: Yes
B2B: Yes
Master Franchise Opportunities: Yes
Veteran Discount: Yes, 10% - must be direct involvement for Franchisee
Financial Assistance Provided: Not directly, but resources available.
Recruiting Assistance: Yes
Training: Initial Training
Training Fee: $15,000. This includes:
90 days fast track program full immersion into sales, operations, business management and all levels of setup.
On-Going Support:
We have a franchise development and recruiting trainer that will be a part of a systematize program for one year.
Semi-Absentee Owner
Semi-absentee ownership is available. The franchisee must purchase multiple territories. They must also have at least $100K liquid and a net worth of $100,000 per territory. We're looking for people with strong leadership skills.
In a semi-absentee ownership model with Fundraising University, the franchisee is to have three units and bring on one to two reps upon signing. The franchisee will go through training with their rep/reps.
We have sample pay plans, and independent contractor agreements and provide ALL TRAINING and support.
This is also a great fit for someone who wants to work the business while scaling a large business.
Owner-Operator
There are 3 main buckets of activities: Sell, Setup, and Execute. Depending on the time of year, the products and the sales cycle drive specific focuses, but essentially, they go as follows:
Sell
The first step is engaging coaches of sports teams in the high schools in your market and selling them on partnering with Fundraising University to do their fundraisers. We sell three products: Discount Cards, Product Sales, and Donations. Each one has value and we train you on how to work through a proven sales process to build relationships and sign contracts.
Setup
After the sale you will work to process the needed things to execute the sale. If it is discount cards, you will go into the community and get local merchants to participate. If it's product sales, you will make sure the proper advanced ordering is in place, and if it is donations, you will set up the donation site for the team. In addition, there are several meeting stages with the coaches along the way. We provide a productivity enhancing Google Suite integrated CRM platform to track and execute all of this.
Execute
Fundraisers last one week, and your role is to lead the kickoff, check in and execute the blitz; a proven process that will deliver excellent results for the teams and provide excellent income opportunities for you. At the end of the fundraiser you collect the money, award prizes, and resign the team for next year which provides a steady stream of repeat business year after year.
IDEAL CANDIDATE: Ideal candidates should have an appreciation for or experience as a participant in organized team sports, have a background in sales (or an outgoing personality), and enjoy working with coaches and teenagers. They should also enjoy being out in the community working and executing in local schools. Candidates would operate with a high level of empathy in a work from home model that contributes to the student athlete experience. High residual rate with an emphasis in relationships. Entry level to advance level sales are accepted with a spirit of teachability. Interest in direct sales is preferred. Out-bound direct sales role that does not require sales background but teachability.
