Everything You Need to Know to Start a Read-A-Thon Fundraiser

By Jake Blumberg | Updated July 15th, 2024 | 4 min read

For Parent Groups, Principals, and School Administrators

Are you always on the lookout for easy and effective fundraising ideas? Want to get your students excited about reading? With a Read-A-Thon, you can do both! This guide will show you how to get started and bring cool things like Inchy's Bookworm Vending Machine to your school.

What is a Read-A-Thon?

Imagine a school event where students get to read their favorite books and raise money at the same time. That’s a Read-A-Thon! It’s a fun and rewarding event where students read to collect donations. Sponsors can pledge money based on the number of pages read or the amount of time spent reading. It’s super easy to organize, and the results are amazing!

Benefits of Read-A-Thon

Easy for Teachers and Administrators

Teachers and administrators, we know you’re busy. That’s why Read-A-Thon is designed to be super easy to manage. It takes less than an hour a week to keep things running smoothly. Plus, the online platform is user-friendly, and dedicated support is always available if you need it​ (Read-A-Thon Fundraiser)​​ (Read-A-Thon Fundraiser)​.

Rewarding for Students

Kids love having choices, and with Read-A-Thon, they can read whatever they want, whenever they want. Whether it’s a comic book or a novel, students get to pick their reading material. On average, students read for about 180 minutes during the event. Plus, they can earn cool rewards like toys, games, and books, making the whole experience even more fun​ (Readafun)​!

Inspiring for the Community

A Read-A-Thon isn’t just a school event; it’s a community event. It’s a chance for everyone to come together and support young readers. The platform provides real-time reports on funds raised and minutes read, making it easy to see the impact. Payment processing is handled for you, and you’ll get hands-on support to make sure everything runs smoothly. It’s a win-win for everyone involved​ (Read-A-Thon Fundraiser)​​ (Readathon Fundraiser)​!

Is Read-A-Thon Easy to Manage?

Absolutely! Managing a Read-A-Thon is as easy as pie. Once you sign up, you’ll get access to a library of pre-made printables and templates to help promote your fundraiser. Just a few clicks and your campaign is live. It’s that simple.

 Earn 4x-5x More Than Traditional Fundraisers

Many schools have found tremendous success with Read-A-Thon. For instance:

• Gold Hill Elementary School PTO raised over $73,000.
• Sonoran Sky Elementary School collected nearly $59,000.
• AZ Madison gathered over $57,000​ (Read-A-Thon Fundraiser)​​ (Read-A-Thon Fundraiser)​.

These examples show how effective and profitable a Read-A-Thon can be for your school.

Easily Achieve Funding For A Inchy's Book Vending Machine With Read-A-Thon

To get a custom book vending machine filled with books, a school with 500 students needs to raise approximately $8,525. Here’s how it breaks down:

This amount of participation can easily fund a fully customized book vending machine and stock it with a variety of exciting books, creating an engaging and rewarding reading environment for your students​ (Readathon Fundraiser)​.

Case Study: Woodsdale Elementary

Let’s take a look at Woodsdale Elementary and how they rocked their Read-A-Thon.

Every year, the Woodsdale Elementary School Student Council picks a new project to work on. This year, they decided to raise money for a book vending machine. Their goal? Raise $7,000. And they did it all with a Read-A-Thon.

The Fundraiser

Goal: Raise $7,000.

Plan: Reach out to local businesses for donations and start a Read-A-Thon.

Result: Raised well over $7,000!

Student Involvement

The best part? The students were the ones in charge. They planned, implemented, and executed the fundraiser from start to finish. Here’s what some of them had to say:

• Reese McGowan (4th Grade): "We wanted to make reading a little bit more fun for little kids and us."
• Nicholas White (3rd Grade): "I think it will help our learning and it will be a fun way to read books."
• Adalyn Hienbaugh (5th Grade): "When kids see big kids getting books from the vending machine, they will want to get some too."

Teacher Support

Teachers Jaime Young and Brandy LaFlam helped guide the student council. The school not only met its goal but exceeded it, raising over $7,500. The extra money will be used to buy more books for the future.

Why Read-A-Thon and Inchy's Bookworm Vending Machine Make a Perfect Match

At Inchy's Bookworm Vending Machine, our mission is to foster a love of reading in students by making books more accessible and engaging. A Read-A-Thon aligns perfectly with this mission, providing an exciting and interactive way for students to engage with books while supporting their school financially.

Why It Works

Shared Goals

Both Read-A-Thon and Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine aim to promote literacy and a passion for reading. By combining a Read-A-Thon fundraiser with the installation of a book vending machine, schools can create a dynamic reading culture that excites students.

Motivation Through Rewards

Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine uses the thrill of a vending machine to motivate students to read more. Similarly, Read-A-Thon’s reward system encourages students to read by offering them prizes. Together, they provide a powerful incentive for students to dive into books.

Community Engagement

Both programs encourage community involvement. Read-A-Thon’s easy-to-use platform allows students to reach out to family, friends, and community members for support. Meanwhile, Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine can become a community landmark, drawing attention and support from local businesses and organizations.

Proven Success

Schools across the country have seen incredible results with both programs. By combining the two, schools can maximize their fundraising efforts and create a lasting impact on their students’ reading habits.

Ready to Start Your Fundraiser?

Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine can transform your school, and a Read-A-Thon fundraiser can make it happen. Together, these programs make a big difference in students' lives.

Ready to take the next step? Sign up here and start your Read-A-Thon today!

I hope this makes your Read-A-Thon journey exciting and successful! If you have any questions or need more tips, feel free to reach out. Happy reading and fundraising!