Athon fundraisers have long been a favorite for schools, sports teams, and community groups. They’re engaging, goal oriented, and incredibly effective. But what makes them even more powerful is combining them with peer-to-peer fundraising.
With Cheddar Up’s peer-to-peer fundraising tools, you can run an athon where each participant gets their own page to collect pledges based on activity or effort. It takes the pressure off organizers and makes giving simple for everyone.
Here is how to set up an athon on a fundraising platform that feels modern, manageable, and built to scale.
What Is a Peer-to-Peer Athon Fundraiser?
An athon fundraiser is an activity-based campaign where participants commit to doing something measurable, like reading books, walking laps, or completing challenges. Donors support these efforts through either flat donations or per-unit pledges, tied directly to the participant’s progress.
In a peer-to-peer format, each participant creates their own fundraising page. This turns every individual into a mini-fundraiser with their own audience, goal, and story to tell. It spreads your campaign’s reach and adds a personal connection that drives donations.
Common Athon Ideas
-
Readathons
where participants log the number of books or minutes read.
-
Walkathons
that count steps or laps.
-
Shootathons
for basketball or hockey teams.
-
Danceathons
for hours of participation.
-
Serviceathons
tied to acts of kindness or volunteer hours.
-
Swimathons
for the number of laps swum.
This format is flexible. You can customize it to fit your community’s interests and age range, and structure it as competitive, collaborative, or purely celebratory.
Why Cheddar Up Works for Athon Fundraisers
Cheddar Up gives you all the tools to run a streamlined, high-impact athon without needing extra apps or manual tracking. From setup to closeout, it handles the details, allowing you to focus on participation and promotion.
When you create a peer-to-peer campaign with Cheddar Up, you get:
-
A centralized campaign page
to set the tone, explain your purpose, and collect donations
-
Individual participant pages
that roll up to the main campaign and can be easily customized
-
Flat or per unit pledges
so donors can choose what works best
-
Built in progress tracking
for organizers and supporters to follow along
-
No account required for donors
which reduces friction at checkout
-
Automatic reporting and exports
to simplify reconciliation and thank you’s
All of these tools are included on the Basic Plan, with no subscription cost for organizers!
Your Athon Fundraiser, Step-by-Step
Choose Your Athon Format
Pick something that’s easy to measure and meaningful to your group. The best athons are inclusive and straightforward. You want something participants can realistically track and that resonates with your audience.
Pro Tip: Keep your age group in mind. Younger students in elementary school might track books or laps. Older participants may prefer goals based on miles, hours, or skills.
Start a Peer-to-Peer Fundraiser
When you begin your campaign on Cheddar Up, choose the peer-to-peer format. This creates your main fundraising page, allowing participants to create their own pages under it. Each participant page can be customized and shared, making it easy to collect funds from individual networks.
Invite Participants to Join
Share a simple join link with your participants so they can create their own pages under your campaign. Each participant can add their name, photo, story, and goal. They’ll receive a unique link they can share directly with their networks.
Pro tip: Encourage participants to personalize their stories. A heartfelt note, video, or photo can significantly boost donations.
Track Pledges and Progress Automatically
Donors can choose to give a flat amount or pledge per unit of activity. Participants log their progress throughout the campaign. You’ll be able to view results by individual or group in real time, giving you the visibility to celebrate milestones and recognize top fundraisers.
You can also download reports for easy reconciliation and follow-up, including customizable exports that help with prizes or donor recognition.
Athon Fundraisers That Feel Personal Perform Better
People are more likely to donate when they feel a personal connection to the cause. A peer-to-peer athon gives them that. They are supporting someone they know, tied to a cause they care about, and watching that person achieve something real.
For organizers, Cheddar Up makes the process scalable and efficient. Whether you have 10 participants or 200, everything lives in one place. No spreadsheets. No chasing payments. Just a clean, modern solution built for busy group leaders.
Before you go
Make your next athon fundraiser effortless and impactful with Cheddar Up. From personalized participant pages to built-in pledge tracking, everything you need is in one place.
You may also like:
Preschool Graduation Guide for Room Parents
Preschool graduation is one of those rare school moments that are equal parts adorable, chaotic, and meaningful. For room parents, it’s also a surprisingly complex production. You’re creating a milestone memory for families and supporting a teacher who is already stretched thin, while coordinating a group of very small humans with very big feelings.
This ultimate guide to preschool graduation is designed to help room parents navigate all of it with confidence. From organizing preschool graduation supplies to managing group gifts, invitations, and even preschool graduation t-shirts, this is your go-to resource for making the celebration feel polished without becoming overwhelming.
Before you start ordering supplies or sending messages to parents, take a step back and get clear on the goal. Preschool graduation doesn’t have to be over-the-top, it just needs to feel thoughtful and well put together.
18+ Band Fundraiser Ideas: Best Fundraising Ideas for Music Programs
Calling all band boosters, band directors, and parents who are in search of the greatest band fundraiser ideas for your music programs!
In this ultimate guide, you will find a handful of amazing band fundraising ideas that are sure to help your school band or music program bring in donations. You’ll also learn how an easy-to-use platform for music fundraisers will make donation collections simple (and stress-free!).
After all, band fundraising doesn’t have to feel like pulling teeth. With the right mix of creativity, community spirit, and a solid plan, your music program can raise thousands while having a blast doing it.
Sounds like music to the ears, right? Keep reading to get on your way to funding those uniforms, marching band competitions, banquets, travel, and more!
Gifts for Preschool Teachers: 10+ Ideas & Easy Templates
Finding the perfect gifts for preschool teachers isn’t always easy. These are the people helping little ones learn to share, tie their shoes, and handle big feelings every single day. When it’s time to say “thank you,” the goal is simple: choose something meaningful that won’t just add to classroom clutter.
That’s where a little insight goes a long way. At Cheddar Up, we asked hundreds of educators what they actually want. The result? A clearer, more thoughtful way to approach gifting. Whether it’s for the holidays, an end-of-year celebration, or Teacher Appreciation Week 2026, here is your ultimate guide to the gifts preschool teachers want.Before picking up another “World’s Best Teacher” mug, it’s worth a quick reality check. Our recent Teacher Gift Survey found that 63% of teachers would rather skip the mugs altogether. The thought is kind, but there’s only so much shelf space to go around.
The Ultimate Guide to Preschool Fundraising
Looking for the best preschool fundraising ideas to support your early childhood center? The most successful fundraising ideas for preschool keep things simple, fun, and rooted in connection.
Here’s the reality: according to the Cheddar Up School Fundraising Report, only 64% of parents and educators feel their school is well-funded, leaving a gap many families are willing to help close. But with 1 in 3 schools running five or more fundraisers each year, it’s easy for enthusiasm to fade fast.
That’s where a smarter approach makes all the difference.
This ultimate guide to preschool fundraising brings together 20+ fresh preschool fundraising ideas for 2026, plus practical tips on how to plan and help you raise more with less effort. Think fewer headaches, stronger participation, and a plan your community can get excited about.
Choosing the right fundraising ideas for preschool starts with knowing your community and making every effort count. So what actually works?
