Franchising is not what it used to be. Gone are the days when every business needed a storehouse, a warehouse, or an office space. The reality is that today’s workforce values flexibility, mobility, and freedom—all qualities that are built into the very DNA of Fundraising University.
We have created a franchise model that fits the mold of how people want to work in the modern era. It’s built on service, not products, and doesn’t require a physical location, making it seamless and simple to work from home, from the café, or from wherever you are. Our franchisees can run their business from virtually anywhere, working with schools, coaches, teams, and student groups to help them raise the funds they need to succeed. No office, no inventory— just results.
A Business Without Walls
Fundraising University began in 2009 with a simple mission: to help youth athletic programs and extracurricular groups raise funds to chase their passions, whether that be winning a national championship or debuting a spring musical. When we officially launched our franchise opportunity in March 2020, it was an absolute game-changer in terms of expansion—beginning with 9 territories, and growing 244% by 2022. Today, we’re in 68 territories in 39 states, working with more than 2,700 high schools across the country, and we’ve raised more than $150 million to support student-athletes and extracurricular clubs.
All of this has been accomplished without a single brick-and-mortar location. Our franchise owners meet teams and student groups where they are—on the field, in the gym, in the classroom— not behind a desk or in an office. This lack of overhead means that franchisees can focus on building relationships and delivering results as opposed to managing a physical space.
Work from Anywhere, On Your Own Terms
One of the greatest parts of the business is the freedom it provides. Our franchisees aren’t tied to the same four walls. They can work from home, a coffee shop, or the road—wherever they need to be to get the best results.
As a former athlete, an entrepreneur, and a business leader, I recognize firsthand the value of flexibility in work and in life. Between running a company, coaching, and spending time with family and friends, I’ve learned that being tied to a desk isn’t necessary to run a successful business. Our franchisees feel the same way. They’re able to build their careers around their lives— not the other way around.
Game-Changing Technology
The key to making this remote model work is technology. That’s why Fundraising University made a large investment in building the first-of-its-kind Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system designed specifically for school fundraising.
This ERP system streamlines the entire fundraising process—providing schools transparency, ensuring safety for all students, and increasing results by about 35% compared to traditional methods. It also makes life a lot easier for franchisees. Instead of dealing with mountains of paperwork and logistics, franchise owners can focus on helping teams reach their goals, knowing they have the right tools to back them up.
A Smarter Way to Franchise
Starting a traditional franchise often comes with high costs—real estate, inventory, and staffing, to name a few—but Fundraising University eliminates those barriers. Our franchisees invest in relationships, not storefronts; they invest in what really matters to make their business and students succeed. They don’t have to worry about things like rent, utilities, or managing physical space, allowing them the time to really connect with their communities to make the biggest possible impact.
This means they can turn a profit faster and reinvest their time and money in what really matters for success—supporting schools, clubs, coaches, and athletes.
The Future of Franchising is Mobile
The world is always changing, and franchising is changing with it. Remote work isn’t just a trend; it’s the future. Fundraising University is built for that future, giving eager entrepreneurs the chance to own a business that’s flexible, scalable, and most importantly, extremely impactful on their communities.
We’re proud of what we’ve built since our humble beginnings in 2009. We’re helping students, empowering franchisees, and proving that you don’t need an office or brick-and-mortar location to run a successful business. If you’re looking for a franchise that allows you work from anywhere while making a huge difference in your community, Fundraising University is the opportunity that you have been waiting for.
For more information, please visit www.fundraisingu.net.
By Mike Bahun, Founder & CEO, Fundraising University