When Entrepreneur Magazine released its prestigious 2026 Franchise 500® rankings, Fundraising University achieved something remarkable: the #1 spot in the Fundraising category. This isn’t just a number on a list: it’s a signal that the brand operates with disciplined execution and consistent support—exactly what schools and franchise owners need.
If your passion for sports and community is the foundation, our systems, coaching, and support help you turn that into disciplined execution. That’s how you build a business with long-term value—and a real impact on the athletes and programs you serve.
What the Entrepreneur Franchise 500® Ranking Really Means
For 47 years, the Entrepreneur Franchise 500® has served as the gold standard for evaluating franchise opportunities. It’s not a popularity contest or a pay-to-play list. Each franchise undergoes rigorous evaluation across more than 150 data points, including:
- Unit growth and market expansion
- Financial strength and stability
- Franchisee support systems
- Brand power and recognition
- Costs, fees, and return potential
“For 47 years, the Franchise 500 has been the gold standard for identifying franchise excellence,” says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur magazine’s editor in chief. “These 500 companies represent some of the most reliable pathways to business ownership in America, each one vetted through our rigorous analysis of what actually drives franchisee success.”
Fundraising University didn’t just make the list: the company claimed the top position in its category. This marks the third consecutive year on the Franchise 500®, demonstrating consistent operational excellence and sustainable growth that prospective franchise owners can count on.
More Than a Business: A Mission That Matters
Here’s the truth about franchise ownership that nobody talks about enough: financial success means little if you’re not proud of the work you do every day.
Fundraising University was built on a different foundation. Founded in 2009 by people who understand the transformative power of youth athletics, this franchise exists to solve a real problem: helping school sports teams raise the funds they need without adding to the already overwhelming workload of coaches, teachers, and student-athletes.
The results speak for themselves:
✔ Millions in support generated for school sports teams nationwide through fast, proven fundraising programs
✔ Thousands of schools supported across the United States
✔ A growing network of franchise owners delivering consistent, coach-first fundraisers in their communities
✔ Sustained year-over-year momentum, backed by systems that keep campaigns simple, credible, and repeatable
When you become a Fundraising University franchise owner, you’re not selling a product people don’t need. You’re providing a service that strengthens communities, keeps kids in sports, and creates opportunities that might otherwise never exist.
The Ideal Franchise Owner: Is This You?
Not every franchise opportunity fits every entrepreneur. Fundraising University attracts a specific type of person: someone who sees business ownership as a vehicle for impact, not just income.
You might be the perfect fit if you:
- Have a passion for youth development and believe every student deserves the chance to play
- Want to leverage your network in education, athletics, or community leadership
- Seek meaningful work that connects you to schools, coaches, and families
- Value proven systems over reinventing the wheel
- Dream of building something that outlasts you
Many Fundraising University franchise owners come from backgrounds in coaching, teaching, athletics, or community service. They understand firsthand how transformative sports can be for young people: and they want to be part of making that happen for more students.
The Business Opportunity: A Model Refined Through Real-World Use
Purpose is essential, but execution is what makes it sustainable. Any serious entrepreneur needs a model that holds up in real schools, with real timelines, and real expectations.
Fundraising University is built to be simple to operate and easy for schools to say “yes” to:
- ✔ A streamlined model that doesn’t require a storefront or complex operations
- ✔ A relationship-first business centered on schools, coaches, and community partners
- ✔ Repeatable programs built for consistency, not constant reinvention
- ✔ Coach-supported execution that keeps fundraising from stealing time from the season
This is where disciplined execution shows up: you follow a proven playbook, deliver a professional experience, and build trust that compounds over time.
Comprehensive Support: You’re Never Building Alone
One of the biggest fears new franchise owners face is the learning curve. How do you go from signing an agreement to operating with confidence?
Fundraising University has built integrated support systems specifically designed to answer that question. When you join the franchise, you gain access to:
✔ Proven documented systems developed through years of real-world refinement
✔ Initial training programs that prepare you to hit the ground running
✔ Ongoing operational support from a team focused on consistent execution
✔ Tools and resources that create clear visibility into what to do next and how to do it
✔ A network of fellow franchise owners who share insights and strategies
You benefit from lessons already learned—so you can spend less time guessing and more time executing.
The franchise’s consistent Franchise 500® recognition reflects these support systems in action. Entrepreneur Magazine doesn’t just evaluate brand power: they assess whether franchisors actually help their franchisees succeed. Fundraising University’s ranking confirms they do.
For an inside look at what the franchise journey actually looks like, explore what it’s like opening a franchise with Fundraising University.
Transformational and Transactional: Why Both Matter
The best business opportunities don’t force you to choose between making money and making a difference. Fundraising University represents what happens when those two goals align perfectly.
The transactional side is straightforward: schools need funds, you provide a proven solution, and you earn revenue for delivering results. It’s a clear value exchange that creates sustainable income.
The transformational side runs deeper. Every dollar raised keeps a student on the field. Every successful campaign brings a team closer together. Every partnership you build strengthens your community’s fabric in ways that ripple outward for years.
This dual nature: profitable and purposeful: is exactly what draws entrepreneurs who’ve grown tired of chasing success that feels hollow. When your business model inherently creates positive change, showing up to work feels different. Building something feels different. Success feels different.
A Growing Network With Momentum
Fundraising University began franchising in 2020, and the growth trajectory has been remarkable. From a standing start to a rapidly expanding national footprint in just a few years, the momentum is real.
The company continues expanding its footprint across the United States. Recent additions include new franchise owner Laurie Kelly bringing Fundraising University to Massachusetts, demonstrating the ongoing demand for this service model in communities nationwide.
This isn’t a franchise system that’s peaked. It’s one that’s building toward something bigger, and early movers have the opportunity to establish themselves in territories hungry for what Fundraising University provides.
Your Next Chapter Starts With a Conversation
Disciplined execution starts with asking the right questions—and getting clear on whether the model fits you.
If you’re looking for a purpose-driven franchise where your love of sports is the foundation, Fundraising University gives you the systems, coaching, and support to turn that into consistent, professional execution—while you build flexibility over time.
Fundraising University’s #1 ranking in the Entrepreneur Franchise 500® confirms what franchise owners across the country already know: this model works. The systems are proven. The support is real. The mission matters.
If you want to do your own diligence, you can view the full ranking at Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. When you’re ready, request a conversation about the franchise partnership and we’ll walk through how the model operates, what support looks like day to day, and whether it’s a fit for your market.
The question isn’t whether purpose-driven business ownership is possible. It’s whether you want to build it with disciplined execution.