How to Choose a Team Fundraising Platform: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Sign Up

There are plenty of online fundraising platforms for sports teams, and at first glance they look alike. The differences show up in what your club actually keeps, how fast you get paid, and how much work it is for volunteers. These 10 questions will help you compare.

1. What percentage does the club keep?

This is the most important number. Some platforms keep a percentage of everything raised. Some charge a monthly fee. Ask for the exact percentage your club keeps on a $100 gift if the donor doesn't pay any extra.

2. Can donors cover the fees?

If supporters can choose to cover the fees, your club can keep 100% of what they meant to give. Read more about how donor-covered fees work.

3. Is the price public?

If you need a sales call to learn the rate, ask why. Clear, up-front pricing is a good sign.

4. Are there setup fees, subscriptions or contracts?

Look for hidden costs: setup fees, monthly plans, minimum fundraising amounts or multi-year contracts. Many clubs prefer no contract and no monthly fee.

5. Where does the money go, and how fast?

Ask whether gifts go into your club's own account or are held by the platform until the campaign ends. Ask how long payouts take. Getting paid in days instead of weeks matters when you have tournament fees due.

6. What does every player get?

The best results come when every player has their own page and a way to share it easily: a link, a QR code, and ideally printable flyers. Check how families add their player and who approves them.

7. How is kids' privacy protected?

This one matters. Ask:

• Can families control whether a photo, age group or school is shown?
• Are those details private by default?
• Are birthdays ever public?
• Can the club stay off public leaderboards?

8. How do supporters give?

Giving should take a minute on a phone. Check whether supporters need to create an account (they shouldn't), which payment methods are accepted, and whether they get a receipt automatically.

9. Does it handle receipts and paperwork?

If your club is a 501(c)(3), receipts should include your legal name and EIN, and state that no goods or services were provided. Check whether the platform sends them automatically and gives you records at the end. Our guide to donation receipts covers the basics.

10. What makes it fun?

Engagement drives results. Look for live leaderboards, milestone updates, prizes for top fundraisers and ways to celebrate players at the end. See why leaderboards work.

A quick comparison checklist

How Kick For Good answers these questions

• Fees: Donors can cover the fees so your club keeps 100% of their gift. Your club's rate is set at approval and always shown in your portal.
• Costs: $0 to start, $0 a month, no contract.
• Payouts: Gifts go into your club's own Stripe account and pay out to your bank, usually in about two business days.
• Players: Every player gets a page, a QR code, and printable flyers and yard signs.
• Privacy: Photos, age groups and schools are off unless a parent turns them on. Birthdays are never public.
• Giving: No account needed. Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with automatic receipts.
• Fun: Live leaderboards, a champion celebration, and gold, silver and bronze certificates for the top three.

Comparing with a specific platform? See our Kick For Good and Snap! Raise comparison.