PTA fundraising
Fun Run UK combines online sign-up, entry fees, and individual sponsorship pages in one simple tool, so every participant has their own page to share from the moment they sign up. This page explains how sponsored events work, what to expect, and how to choose the right format for your PTA.
The case for sponsored events
Every participant is a fundraiser, not just an attendee. Each participant has their own page. Grandparents, aunts, neighbours, and family friends can sponsor them directly. The reach of a single group donation link ends at the school gate; individual pages travel further.
The money is collected before the event, not chased after it. Sponsorship is paid online at the moment of giving, not via cash envelopes returned weeks later. There is nothing to reconcile after the day.
One well-run event beats four small ones. Running a raffle, a bake sale, a disco, and a fun run in the same term spreads the same families across four separate asks. A properly set-up sponsored event concentrates effort and typically raises more than the four combined.
How it works
Add the details, date, fundraising goal, and entry fee (if you're charging one). Takes a few minutes.
One page explains the event and invites people to sign up. Send it round, pin it everywhere.
They can share it with family, friends and supporters in a couple of taps.
Donations are collected securely. No paper sponsor forms, no cash envelopes, no chasing.
See entries, sponsorship and your live total as the day approaches.
That is exactly what Fun Run UK is built to do. One setup, one link to share, and a sponsorship page for every participant automatically.
Not sure whether to use a specialist tool or something more general? We have written a plain-English guide to your options.
What’s possible
A simple example, based on a typical primary-school event. Entry fees cover the basics. Sponsorship is where the real total comes from, especially when every participant has a page they can share.
Want to see how the numbers add up for your own event? Try the calculator with your own numbers.
Making the most of sponsorship
Most of the money raised by a sponsored event does not come from families at the school. It comes from the wider network each participant reaches - grandparents, aunts and uncles, family friends, neighbours, people who would never see a school newsletter but will happily sponsor a child they know. That only happens when every participant has a page they can share personally.
A single link shared by the PTA stays within the school community. Individual sponsorship pages travel much further. This is the biggest single factor in how much a sponsored event raises — not the format, not the entry fee, not the venue.
Here is how it works for families:
Supporters do not need an account to donate. Most find it takes under a minute.
Choose your format
The most flexible format. A short run around the school field or a local route. Works for all year groups, any time of year.
Read the fun run guide →
Participants run through colour-powder stations. One of the most photographed school events available. Popular with primary schools in spring and summer.
Read the colour run guide →
A festive fun run in December. One of the best-attended sponsored events in the school calendar.
Read the Santa run guide →
A lower-energy option that suits all ages, including Reception. Works on the school field or a local route.
Read the sponsored walk guide →Not sure which format to choose? Answer a few quick questions and we’ll suggest the best fit →
Gift Aid
Gift Aid declarations are captured automatically at the moment a supporter gives. Every eligible donation is potentially worth 25% more to the group, claimed back from HMRC. The platform handles the declaration, there is no extra step for the treasurer.
Eligibility note: to claim Gift Aid, the group needs to be a registered charity or a community amateur sports club (CASC). Many PTAs are registered charities; some are not. If the PTA is not registered, Gift Aid cannot be claimed, but the event can still be run and the platform still works.
If you are not sure whether your PTA is registered, check with the chair or treasurer before the event. The declaration is collected regardless, so if you later confirm registration, the data is already there.
Common questions
No. The platform is open to any UK group, including registered charities, PTAs, school associations, and informal committees. You do not need charity registration to set up an event.
Entry fees cover your event costs and confirm that each participant is committed. Sponsorship is where the real income comes from, as every participant shares their own page with family and friends who can give online. Both happen in one sign-up flow, so there is no extra step for the organiser and no separate system to manage.
Try the calculator to see how the two add up for your event.
There are two charges on entry fees: a Stripe transaction fee of 1.5% + 20p per transaction, and a Fun Run UK platform fee of 3.5%. These are separate charges, both applied to entry fees only. The platform takes no percentage of sponsorship. Supporters can leave an optional tip when they give to support the platform.
Full details are on the pricing page.
Online payment is the recommended approach. It removes post-event reconciliation and means totals are accurate in real time. The platform is built around online payment.
Most events are set up in around 30 minutes. You choose a date, name the event, set the entry fee, and publish a sign-up link. The platform creates sponsorship pages automatically as participants sign up.
See the full how it works walkthrough for a step-by-step overview.
Same-day setup. Individual sponsorship pages for every participant, entry fees collected online, and no spreadsheets.
