If you’re organizing a readathon fundraiser and want to maximize donations without piling on admin work, Cheddar Up is the tool you’ve been looking for. Trusted by schools, PTAs, libraries, and community groups nationwide, it simplifies everything from setup and tracking to communication and donor follow-up.
Let’s break down how it works and why it delivers.
What is a Readathon Fundraiser?
A readathon fundraiser is a simple concept that is easy to organize with powerful results. Participants commit to reading books over a set period and collect pledges from family and friends in support of their fundraising goals. Donors can pledge a flat amount or contribute based on reading milestones, such as the number of books, pages, or minutes read. It’s a great way to get kids excited about reading while raising money for a cause. Plus, it builds a strong sense of community through shared goals.
Looking for more peer-to-peer fundraising options? Discover a full list of exciting athon fundraising ideas to match your group’s interests.
How Cheddar Up Supercharges Your Readathon Fundraiser
Every Reader Fundraises for your Readathon
With Cheddar Up’s peer-to-peer fundraising, every participant creates their donation page. Parents or guardians can add a photo, reading goal, and personal message, all in just a few clicks. These pages are automatically linked to your main campaign and can be shared via text, email, or social media. No separate platform needed!
Reach More Donors, Raise More Funds
With peer-to-peer fundraising, every reader becomes a powerful advocate for your cause. As readers share their pages, your readathon fundraiser grows exponentially, expanding your reach and multiplying donations with every click. It’s word-of-mouth fundraising, supercharged.
Built-In Tools to Keep You Organized
All donations and participant info are tracked automatically. You’ll always know how much each reader raised, who donated, and your overall progress. Use this data to highlight top fundraisers, recognize milestones and reading progress, and maintain momentum with real-time insights.
Payment is Friction-Free
Cheddar Up makes it super easy for donors to give — no account, no app, no hassle. Donors can pay with:
- Credit card
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- eCheck (Pro & Team only)
By default, processing fees are passed on to the donor, allowing your organization to retain all of the funds raised. Or, if you’d rather absorb the fees, you can do that too. It’s your choice.
And unlike some platforms, Cheddar Up doesn’t prompt donors to tip at checkout. No surprise add-ons or guilt trips.
Customize Every Detail
Make your readathon fundraiser look and feel like your community. With Cheddar Up, you can:
- Add a custom banner, logo, and brand colors
- Write personalized intro message and item descriptions
- Use item variations (like t-shirt sizes or reward levels)
- Embed a video to inspire donors or explain your mission
- Hightlight key details, location and FAQs
- Personalize email receipts (Pro & Team plans) with thank-you messages, links, or next steps
- Control who pays fees and how they’re shown at checkout
- Use a custom page URL and QR code to promote your fundraiser
With the Team Plan, you can take it even further by creating a fully branded group site. This site can showcase your readathon alongside other events or collections, all with your school’s name, colors, and logo front and center.
Every detail is in your hands so your fundraiser feels personal, polished, and on brand.
Top Reasons to Choose Cheddar Up for Your Readathon Fundraiser
- No coding or design skills needed
- Peer-to-peer fundraising is included in all plans (even our free basic plan!)
- Flexible payment options with low fees
- Real-time tracking & reporting
- Easy to share, easier to manage
Download Cheddar Up’s Readathon Fundraiser template to get going fast.
Before you go
You’ve got the readers. We’ve got the platform. Let’s make your readathon fundraiser a standout success.
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?
