HometownLift
HometownLift: A focused read-a-thon platform with free core tools and paid event operations. Ranked #4 of 29 in School Fundraising Software by our editors (7.9/10); pricing: Free plan · paid from $190/yr; best for small schools focused on reading-a-thons.
At a glance
- Editor score7.9 / 10
- PricingFree plan · paid from $190/yr
- Best forSmall schools focused on reading-a-thons
- Free planYes
- Pledge trackingYes
- Facts checked28 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Per-book and per-minute pledges with automatic payment calculations
- Student pages show reading goals and fundraising progress
- Free Core plan includes campaigns, donor CRM, and volunteer tracking
Where it doesn't
- Read-a-thon totals must be entered by a teacher or organizer
- Advanced event and operations tools require paid annual plans
- Web-only access, with Stripe listed as the integration
Our verdict on HometownLift
HometownLift is cloud-based fundraising software for schools, booster clubs, youth sports teams, and other community organizations. Its clearest fit is a small school running a read-a-thon: each student receives a shareable page, supporters can pledge per book or per minute, and flat donations are also supported. Campaign pages, QR sharing, donor records, memberships, raffles, a basic store, volunteer signups, and hours tracking extend it beyond a single reading campaign.
The pricing structure starts with Core, a free-forever plan covering fundraising campaigns, participant pages, donor CRM, memberships, raffles, a basic store, and volunteer tools. Event Mode costs $190 per year and adds ticket sales, station QR codes, live order feeds, scanners, Tap to Pay, and preorder pickup tools. Operations Pro costs $390 per year and adds equipment management, project boards, Volunteer Pro, and donor stewardship tools. Complete costs $490 per year and combines Core, Event Mode, Operations Pro, and current paid add-ons. Donors cover platform and card-processing fees at checkout.
The read-a-thon workflow is the product’s most distinctive capability. Organizers enter final reading results, HometownLift calculates each pledge amount, and the platform emails payment requests after the reading period; it does not replace reading logs. Stripe is the listed integration, access is through the web, and support is provided by email. PCI DSS compliance is listed. Schools seeking a straightforward pledge-and-payment process with participant pages should find the feature set aligned with that need, while organizations requiring native mobile access, broader integrations, or automated reading-log capture should consider alternatives.
HometownLift pricing
All 4 HometownLift plans and prices →
HometownLift fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Pledge tracking | Yes |
| Event fundraising | Yes |
| Family messaging | Yes |
| Peer-to-peer pages | Yes |
| Campaign limit | Not verified |
| Participant limit | Not verified |
| Platform access | Web |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Compliance & security | PCI DSS |
| Support | |
| Built for | Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 1 integrations: Stripe |
| Pricing | Free plan · paid from $190/yr (source) |
| Website | hometownlift.com |
| Facts checked | 28 Sep 2026 |
HometownLift integrations
HometownLift lists 1 integrations on its own site.
- Stripe
Alternatives to HometownLift
- PledgeStarA school-focused pledge-drive platform with multilingual student pages and a free campaign option.9.6
- FutureFundA free, all-purpose fundraising toolkit for PTAs and other K-12 groups.8.8
- SchoolfundrA no-platform-fee option for school a-thons, with payment processing fees on online gifts.8.2
See all HometownLift alternatives →
HometownLift vs the competition
- HometownLift vs PledgeStar
- HometownLift vs FutureFund
- HometownLift vs Schoolfundr
- HometownLift vs SuccessFund
- HometownLift vs GoPledge
- HometownLift vs PledgeAthon
Compare HometownLift with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
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