Limitless Franchise Growth Drives Fundraising U’s Mission to Support Student Athletes
While visiting high schools across the country, Mike Bahun (above, center) kept hearing the same story: coaches and program directors were struggling to fund their teams. Despite their best efforts — car washes, bake sales, booster events — they still came up short. “Most athletic programs receive only about 30 percent of what they need to succeed,” Bahun says.
A former Division I baseball player at Iowa State, Bahun spent years working with athletes and coaches at every level. Through those experiences, he saw that traditional fundraisers required significant time for minimal returns. The process was inefficient and outdated, often relying on the same small pool of donors and volunteers.
Determined to change that, Bahun developed a system to simplify fundraising and boost results. In 2009, he launched Fundraising University (Fundraising U) to make school fundraising easier, faster and more effective. What started as one man’s mission to support student programs has grown into one of the most streamlined and scalable franchise opportunities in the country.
How it Works
Fundraising U’s mission is simple: help schools fund what matters most — from football and basketball to band, choir and dance. The brand empowers franchisees to build thriving, purpose-driven businesses that make a real difference in their communities.
Here’s how it works: Franchise owners partner directly with local schools and athletic programs to organize fast, high-impact “fundraising blitzes” — efficient, tech-powered campaigns that can raise thousands of dollars in just 7 to 10 days. Using digital tools, communication templates and proven outreach strategies, franchisees help student-athletes connect with their supporters through call and text.
There are three types of fundraisers: monetary, consumable product sales, or selling discount cards with partnerships from national and local vendors. Monetary campaigns are the shorter and most widely used, they are exclusively done through call and text. Consumable product sales are collected digitally and shipped directly to the customer, no inventory, no middleman or transfer of cash. The discount cards provide real value to the community through local partnerships while giving students a sense of ownership and accountability. In all three options, players have an active role in the fundraiser, learning teamwork, communication and goal-setting along the way. The result is a streamlined, modern fundraiser that benefits everyone — students, schools and supporters alike.
Fundraising U (and its franchise owners) are compensated with a percentage of the total funds raised. This aligns their success directly with the success of the fundraising campaign. This process eliminates stress for coaches and students while creating a rewarding business for franchise owners who get to see their work make an immediate impact.
The Franchise Opportunity
The franchise opportunity stands out for its accessibility, simplicity and mission.
- No buildout or employees required, keeping overhead minimal.
- High earning potential, with fast, repeatable fundraising cycles.
- Supported by an experienced franchisor, with training, tools and mentorship at every stage.
Franchisees enjoy low startup costs, flexible schedules, and the satisfaction of knowing their work directly benefits students, coaches and school programs.
Fundraising U offers flexibility for owners at every stage of growth:
- Owner-Operator Model: Ideal for hands-on entrepreneurs who enjoy meeting with schools, coaches and students to run events and cultivate partnerships.
- Multi-Territory Model: Designed for scalable growth. Multi-territory owners typically hire one sales representative per territory to act as the boots on the ground — managing fundraisers and relationships locally.
This adaptable model has fueled rapid national expansion, with more than 90 territories now operating across the U.S.
Community-First Culture
“What sets Fundraising U apart isn’t just the results,” Bahun says. “Our community-first culture keeps franchisees motivated and connected to a meaningful mission. There’s still tremendous opportunity for growth in key markets nationwide — particularly in areas with strong school athletic and activity communities and limited access to organized fundraising support.”
Matt Johnson, a team leader with Fundraising U and franchise partner in North Kansas City, says that sense of purpose is what makes the brand so fulfilling. “I get to see different coaches every day, be part of their programs, and meet kids. Even at the elementary level, you’re helping them raise money they need. It’s just a great way to stay involved in athletics.”
A high school coach agrees: “Fundraising U did all the work and got our kids out in the community. It took the pressure off our staff — and that meant everything.”
Partnership with Limitless Franchise Growth
In October of 2025, Fundraising University partnered with Limitless Franchise Growth (LFG) to strategically scale across key U.S. markets. For LFG, which has partnered with franchises as diverse as JETSET Pilates, Project LeanNation and All Dogs Unleashed, it’s a chance to both cultivate a new relationship and do a bit of good. “At Limitless, we get excited about concepts that make a positive impact on people’s lives,” says LFG CEO & Founder Lance Freeman (above, left). “Fundraising University allows owners to not only build a strong business but also make a lasting impact on youth development and their communities.”
The Future Is Bright
According to the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health, nearly 27 million kids aged 6-17 participated in sports. With school budgets tightening and extracurricular costs rising, the need for effective fundraising has never been greater. Research from the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) shows that high school activity programs receive just 1–3% of a district’s total education budget.
That growing funding gap creates a tremendous opportunity for Fundraising U franchise owners. Mike Bahun grew up in a single-family home in Omaha, Nebraska to become a Division 1 (D1) athlete, so he is attuned both to the challenge of funding high school sports programs and to families’ struggle to provide. “Franchisees not only build a simple-to-run business with a lifestyle-friendly schedule, but they also play a role in shaping kids’ lives and supporting their communities,” says Bahun. “If you can make a great living while making a difference, that’s the path worth being on.”
Learn more about the Fundraising University franchise opportunity.
