Fundraising University Franchise

Mike Bahun founded Fundraising University in 2009 after experience as an athlete and coach. In a March 2025 interview, he described wanting to stay connected to coaches and the student-athlete environment while helping teams address fundraising challenges.

The business developed around a service relationship with schools and teams, rather than simply supplying a fundraising product. Its own franchise account identifies Dan Smith as an owner who joined in March 2020, illustrating the brand’s expansion through local franchise operators.

Fundraising University now publishes separate owner-operator and team-building paths within its school sports fundraising system. Its 2026 materials emphasize structured campaign planning, digital order and payment tools, reporting and operational support. The model continues to center on relationships among franchise owners, coaches, students and their communities.

The company’s official franchise overview describes initial training in lead generation, marketing and operations management, followed by continuing training materials. In his March 2025 Franchise Chatter interview, founder Mike Bahun described a 90-day fast-track program, followed by mentoring from experienced operators and continued development through repeated practice. This is his published description of the program, rather than a substitute for current agreement terms.

Fundraising University’s February 2026 leadership overview lists weekly Franchise Business Coach meetings, performance-indicator calls, leadership training and collaborative owner discussions. It also describes continued operational training, performance reviews and access to peers in other markets.

The company’s field-execution guidance explains how owners plan a campaign timeline, brief the coach, monitor progress and debrief afterward. Supporting tools cover order tracking, payment processing, parent communication and reporting. Operational support is available for questions involving school policies, parent issues or delivery problems.

Fundraising University connects a local service business with a clear customer need: helping school teams and activity groups organize fundraising. Its published campaign options range from short events to multi-day efforts, allowing the approach to reflect the group’s needs.

Owner-operators personally manage school relationships, while the company’s “Empire Builder” path focuses on recruiting and leading fundraising coaches. Both call for active involvement. This may suit an organized, coachable owner who enjoys outreach, dependable follow-through and building relationships with educators and coaches.

Read more in Fundraising University Franchise: Campaigns, Training and Owner Roles.