How DoDEA Schools Raise More, Keep More, and Engage Families Across the Globe
Fundraising in a military community comes with a unique set of challenges—and opportunities. Between frequent family moves, rotating volunteers, and overseas locations, schools need a system that works no matter who’s running it or where families are located.
That’s exactly why DoDEA schools around the world use FundHub.
FundHub helps military schools raise more money, keep more profit, and engage donors from anywhere. With detailed reporting, flexible donation options, and a dedicated fundraising coach, it’s built to meet the specific needs of schools serving military families.
Whether you’re planning your first event or looking to improve an annual fundraiser, this guide shares what to consider—and how real DoDEA schools are seeing major results.
What Makes Fundraising at DoDEA Schools Different?
Frequent Turnover Requires Consistency
Because military families move every few years, your fundraising team might look completely different from one year to the next. FundHub is built to be handed off smoothly:
- Everything lives in your dashboard year after year
- Your fundraising coach helps each new team get up to speed
- You’ll have templates, reports, and checklists ready to go
Donors Are Spread Out
A student’s biggest supporters might live in another country or be stationed at a different base. FundHub allows schools to accept:
- Credit and debit cards
- Cash and checks
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal
No matter how someone prefers to give, they can.
Reporting Is Critical
DoDEA schools are often required to provide fundraising data for leadership or audits. FundHub gives you:
- Full reports on participation, donation totals, and payment methods
- Data by student, class, and grade
- Printable summaries for year-end wrap-ups or leadership meetings
Sembach Elementary – Germany
Located on a U.S. Air Force base in Germany, Sembach Elementary PTO has used FundHub since 2020. They host an annual Read-Athon aligned with Read Across America Week—a natural tie-in to something the whole school already celebrates.
In 2025, their goal was $5,000. They raised $10,700 and kept 97% of donations. The funds provided a free Book Fair for every student in May.
By combining a national literacy week with a flexible online fundraiser, they kept the event simple to run and focused on something meaningful to their school culture.
Key takeaway: Tie your fundraiser to an academic or community theme—especially one already on the calendar.
Online, Offline, and Everything in Between
One misconception about digital fundraising platforms is that they only work with online donations. FundHub supports multiple payment types:
- Online donations via credit card or digital wallet
- Manual entry of cash/check donations
- Automatic tracking in your school dashboard
Whether a grandparent donates from another country or a neighbor drops off a check, every gift is recorded and counted toward class and school-wide totals.
Grafenwoehr Elementary – Germany
Grafenwoehr PTA, serving a U.S. Army garrison in Bavaria, hosts a yearly event called the Volksmarch Adventure Day. Inspired by a traditional Bavarian community walk, students participate in an outdoor adventure that includes learning stations, lunch, and time to explore.
In their first year with FundHub, they raised over $10,000—more than any previous fundraiser. That success has continued year after year, and the format remains a favorite for families.
The event uses a mix of cash, check, and online donations—all tracked in FundHub. Families can give in the way that’s easiest for them, and the PTA gets clean, exportable data on participation and totals.
Key takeaway: Fundraisers rooted in local or cultural traditions can be both meaningful and profitable.
Passing the Torch with Ease
With a high rate of volunteer turnover at DoDEA schools, one of the biggest barriers to long-term success is continuity. FundHub simplifies that by making your fundraiser repeatable:
- Annual events like Fun Runs or Read-Athons can be duplicated in the dashboard
- Each new volunteer team gets coach support and access to prior-year data
- Materials from previous fundraisers stay organized and accessible
Ralph P. Stearley Elementary – Japan
This school, located on Yokota Air Base, has run both Fun Runs and Read-Athons using FundHub since 2019. Their events brings in around $20,000, and they consistently keep 96% of what they raise.
Beyond the strong fundraising results, the school has built traditions around their events. Proceeds go to multiple areas:
- Classroom and school libraries
- Panda Penny Program (a student reward shop)
- Events during Month of the Military Child
They’ve also completed the 50 State Challenge, a FundHub activity that encourages students to secure donations from across the country!
Key takeaway: A strong fundraising system gives you the flexibility to build lasting traditions, even when your team changes year to year.
Real Results from Other DoDEA Schools
Bob Hope Elementary – Okinawa, Japan
Referred by Ralph Stearley, this school runs both a Read-Athon and a Fun Run each year. With about $15,000 raised annually and 95% profit kept, they’ve turned their Read-Athon into a full-month event complete with a school-wide BINGO card challenge.
Rota DGF Elementary – El Puerto de Santa María, Spain
This school’s annual Turkey Trot Fun Run brings in about $20,000 and keeps 97% of donations. Their incentives—like cutting the principal’s tie or having lunch with school admin—have become much-anticipated traditions.
Zukeran Elementary – Okinawa, Japan
As one of FundHub’s longest-standing DoDEA partners, Zukeran raises between $15,000 and $20,000 each year. Funds directly support classrooms, teacher materials, and schoolwide student morale events.
Edward C. Killin Elementary – Chatan, Japan
Initially running a Turkey Trot, this school now hosts a Read or Run event, bringing in $18,000 and keeping 96% of it. All donations are tracked online, making it easy to report and plan. Proceeds fund everything from the annual Glow Dance to Winter Fest and classroom enrichment.
Amelia Earhart Intermediate – Okinawa, Japan
New to FundHub in 2024, this school launched a Color Run and quickly saw it become their largest fundraiser. They raised $10,000 with a 96% profit margin.
Travis Elementary – Travis AFB, California
Before FundHub, this school used a full-service company and kept just $6,000 of the $12,000 they raised. After switching to FundHub, they brought in $27,000 and kept 96%.
Kingsolver Elementary – Fort Knox, Kentucky
In their first year using FundHub, Kingsolver raised $14,000 with a 96% profit margin. They exceeded their goal by 130%, and funds went toward Field Day shirts, indoor/outdoor recess materials, and supplies for PE and Art.
Military School Communities Are Strong. Your Fundraiser Should Be Too.
FundHub isn’t just a donation platform—it’s a complete system built for the needs of DoDEA schools. We help you:
- Support rotating volunteer teams
- Reach global donors
- Accept all forms of payment
- Track every dollar
- Generate easy, accurate reports
If you’re a DoDEA parent, PTO leader, teacher, or administrator, let’s talk.
Schedule a quick call with one of our experienced military fundraising coaches and discover how FundHub can help your school raise more, keep more, and run a fundraiser your entire community will rally behind.
