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Booster Club Software

Top 10 Booster Club Software in 2025

By
Enes Güneş
August 28, 2025
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Booster clubs do incredible work.

They keep sports, arts, and student programs alive when budgets fall short. But ask anyone who has volunteered on a board and they will tell you the same thing: keeping everything organized is exhausting. 

Between collecting dues, tracking fundraising money, and scheduling volunteers, most clubs run on spreadsheets, sticky notes, and a lot of late-night texts.

And they are everywhere, 82% of U.S. high schools have booster organizations. That is a lot of clubs trying to do big things with outdated tools.

The problem is not the passion, it is the tools. And that is where the right booster club software can make life a whole lot easier.

We're talking about:

  • Automated dues collection (goodbye awkward payment reminders)
  • Event management that doesn't require a PhD in logistics
  • Financial tracking that actually makes sense
  • Communication tools that reach parents on the first try

Ready to ditch the chaos and join the 21st century?

Here's what we'll cover:

✅ Why booster clubs desperately need modern software
✅ The biggest trends shaping booster club tech in 2025
✅ Real user complaints (and how to avoid them)
✅ 10 software options that actually work — starting with our top pick

Let's dive in.

Key Takeaways

  • Widespread adoption. 82% of U.S. high schools have booster organizations, with clubs raising tens of thousands annually.
  • Software usage is growing. 85% of nonprofits now use dedicated financial software, while 60–64% use CRM tools to manage relationships and donors.
  • Market expansion. The nonprofit software market will grow from ~$4.4B in 2024 to ~$8.3B by 2033.
  • Generational expectations. 52% of Gen Z say tech-savviness is crucial for leadership, meaning younger parents expect modern digital tools.
  • Manual processes still common. 57% of booster clubs continue to rely on spreadsheets and cash boxes, despite the availability of affordable membership platforms like Join It.

Why Booster Clubs Desperately Need the Right Software

The booster club boom is real.

With 82% of high schools running these organizations, we're talking thousands of clubs nationwide. They're managing everything from football equipment to band uniforms.

The money? Serious business. Many clubs raise tens of thousands annually.

Yet here's the problem: Most operate like it's 1995.

The Current Reality Looks Like This:

  • Membership lists scattered across multiple Excel files
  • Dues collected via cash boxes and personal checks
  • Event coordination through endless email chains
  • Financial reporting that gives treasurers nightmares

Meanwhile, the nonprofit software market is projected to grow from ~$4.4B in 2024 to ~$8.3B by 2033.

Organizations everywhere are going digital. But booster clubs? Many are still in spreadsheet hell.

The stats don't lie:

  • 85% of nonprofits use dedicated financial software
  • 60-64% use CRM/donor-management tools
  • 57% of booster clubs still rely on manual processes

The Right Software Delivers Three Core Benefits:

🎯 Saves Time: Automated renewals, payment processing, communication
💰 Boosts Revenue: Better tracking, easier donations, streamlined fundraising
😌 Reduces Burnout: Less manual work = volunteers actually stick around

Think of it as your club's digital assistant. Handles the boring stuff so you can focus on what matters: supporting your kids and community.

See how other booster clubs are thriving

Booster Club Software Trends in 2025

The booster club tech landscape is evolving fast.

Here's what's driving the change:

Cloud-Based and Mobile-First Solutions Dominate

Over 85% of nonprofits prefer cloud-based software. Booster clubs are following suit.

Parents expect to pay dues, sign up for events, and check schedules from their phones. Not desktop computers gathering dust in the basement.

Fundraising Automation Is Rising

Modern platforms offer automated receipt generation, donor tracking, and even AI-powered outreach.

Recent surveys show growing interest in automation and analytics. Nonprofit leaders increasingly demand real-time budgeting and outcome metrics.

Gen Z Parents Want Tech-Savvy Tools

Here's a stat that'll make you think: 52% of Gen Z say tech-savviness is a crucial leadership trait.

As younger parents join booster clubs, they're bringing expectations for intuitive, mobile-friendly platforms.

"All-in-One" Platforms Are Winning

Gone are the days of juggling five different tools for membership, payments, events, and communication.

Today's successful clubs want integrated systems that handle everything in one place.

Many vendors now market "all-in-one" booster club software. The industry is rapidly shifting to cloud SaaS solutions with AI-driven features.

Translation: Expect more automation and analytics over the next 5 years.

Key Challenges Booster Clubs Face (and How Software Helps)

Before we dive into specific tools, let's address the elephant in the room:

Why do so many booster clubs resist adopting new software?

Based on research from Reddit forums, LinkedIn discussions, and industry surveys, here are the top pain points:

Limited Volunteer Time and Tech Expertise

Most booster clubs run on parent volunteers already juggling full-time jobs, kids' schedules, and household responsibilities.

They don't have time to become software experts. Many fear complex systems or high fees.

The solution: Look for platforms with intuitive interfaces and strong customer support.

Budget Constraints

Booster clubs watch every penny. They need affordable solutions with clear ROI.

Red flag: Platforms with hidden fees or complex pricing. As one Reddit user noted about Cheddar Up: "fees are too high" — a common complaint across payment platforms.

Legacy Data Stuck in Spreadsheets

Years of member information, financial records, and event history live in various Excel files.

Data migration feels overwhelming.

The solution: Choose platforms with robust import tools and migration support.

Feature Gaps in "Generic" Tools

Many clubs try general-purpose tools that miss booster-specific needs.

Example: MoneyMinder users praise its budgeting features but complain it "doesn't print checks" — small but crucial missing functionality.

Common issues include missing functionality, lack of customization for school-specific needs, and learning curves for inexperienced users.

Integration Headaches

Clubs often end up with multiple disconnected systems.

As one forum user asked: "Which platform can handle memberships, e-commerce, email and banking in one place?"

Often, no single tool is perfect.

Key Takeaway: Successful clubs need software that's affordable, easy to learn, and tailored to their workflows (fundraising, concessions sales, membership dues, etc.).

Compare transparent pricing options

How We Evaluated the Best Booster Club Software

To create this list, we analyzed 10 software platforms with at least 5 verified reviews on SoftwareAdvice or similar platforms.

Our Evaluation Criteria:

Booster-Relevant Features: Membership management, fundraising tools, event coordination, financial tracking
Pricing Transparency: Clear costs with no hidden fees
Real User Feedback: Reviews from actual organizations, not just vendor claims
Ease of Use: Platforms that busy volunteers can actually navigate
Customer Support: Responsive help when things go wrong

The 10 Best Booster Club Software Options

Join It 

Join It is a cloud-based membership management platform that lets organizations create customizable membership plans, track member data, and integrate with payment processors like Stripe.

It also offers integrations with MailChimp and Eventbrite.

Key Features:

  • Automated membership renewals and payment reminders
  • Customizable membership plans and member tracking
  • Group and family membership options
  • Payment processor integrations (Stripe, etc.)
  • MailChimp and Eventbrite integrations

What Users Love: Reviewers describe the platform as "really intuitive" and easy for the whole team to use. They appreciate the Eventbrite integration and responsive customer support.

Pricing:

  • Starter: $29/month plus 3% service fee
  • Growth: $49/month plus 2.5% service fee
  • Total: $99/month plus 1.5% service fee
  • Annual discounts available

Free Trial: 30 days, no credit card required

Start your free trial | View booster club examples

MoneyMinder 

MoneyMinder is bookkeeping software built for parent-teacher associations, booster clubs and other nonprofits.

It provides check registers, budgeting, contacts, reporting tools, and bank-account reconciliation.

Key Features:

  • Fund accounting designed for school nonprofits
  • Budget tracking and financial reporting
  • Check registers and bank reconciliation
  • Contact management and reporting tools

What Users Say: Reviews praise MoneyMinder's ease of use and integrated tools for banking, budgeting and reporting.

However, a common complaint: once a budget is changed, it cannot be reverted easily.

One Reddit user noted: "I've been relatively pleased with MoneyMinder... it does a great job of tracking our budget" but it "doesn't print checks".

Pricing: $299/year (equivalent to $25/month billed annually). A free edition with limited features is also available.

Free Trial: 30 days, no credit card required

Cheddar Up 

Cheddar Up enables groups to collect online payments and donations through customizable pages with unlimited forms and withdrawals.

Paid plans add features like unlimited items, waivers, advanced selling features and custom branding.

Key Features:

  • Customizable payment forms and donation pages
  • Unlimited forms and withdrawals (paid plans)
  • Waiver collection capabilities
  • Custom branding options
  • Direct bank account deposits

User Feedback: Users like the clean interface and ability to collect dues and donations. But they frequently complain about transaction fees and limitations (no built-in auctions or advanced event tools).

Credit-card transactions are 3.95% + $0.95 per transaction on the free plan or 3.59% + $0.59 on paid plans.

Pricing:

  • Basic: Free (up to 5 items per page)
  • Pro: $15/month (annual billing)
  • Team: $35/month (annual billing)
  • Partner: Custom pricing

Free Trial: No free trial, but the Basic plan is free to start

Membership Toolkit 

Membership Toolkit provides an all-in-one solution for PTAs/booster clubs, including website builder, contact database, event calendar, volunteer scheduling, online sales/donations, and email communications.

Key Features:

  • Built-in website builder and contact database
  • Event calendar and volunteer scheduling
  • Online sales/donations capabilities
  • Email communication system
  • All-in-one PTA/booster management

User Sentiment: Users generally appreciate having membership, e-commerce and communication tools in one place. Some note occasional usability issues.

Pricing:

  • Essential: $550/year (pre-designed website, contact directory, events and volunteer scheduling)
  • Premium: $850/year (adds customizable design and accounting tools)
  • Concierge: $1,150/year (adds priority support and professional services)

Free Trial: Available (length not specified)

Omnify 

Omnify is a reservation and business management platform used by sports facilities, gyms and clubs.

It handles class and event bookings, memberships, packages and payments. Integrates with Zoom, Stripe and PayPal.

Key Features:

  • Class and event booking system
  • Membership packages and payments
  • Zoom, Stripe and PayPal integration
  • Mobile-friendly reservation platform

User Notes: TrustRadius reviews report that users initially appreciated Omnify's low prices and features. But some complain about price increases over time and limited ability to hide cost information during booking.

Pricing:

  • Free: $0/month (up to 2 team members, 5% transaction fee)
  • Growth: $79/month annually (2% fee)
  • Accelerate: $199/month annually (1% fee)
  • Scale: $499/month annually (0.5% fee)

Free Trial: 7 days, no credit card required

MemberPlanet 

MemberPlanet is a membership management platform for nonprofits and associations.

It offers member directories, dues collection, event registration, email campaigns, and surveys.

Key Features:

  • Member directories and dues collection
  • Event registration system
  • Email campaigns and surveys
  • Fundraising and grant tracking tools

User Sentiment: User feedback indicates that MemberPlanet provides comprehensive features but some find the user interface dated and note occasional glitches.

Reviews note its rich feature set, though some find the UI dated.

Pricing:

  • Basic: Free (small volumes)
  • Essentials: $50/month (2% platform fee and 3% + $0.30 processing fee, 1,000 campaign emails)
  • Pro: $100/month (1% fee and 5,000 campaign emails)
  • Premium: $175/month (1% fee and 10,000 emails)
  • Annual prepay discount available

Free Trial: Free Basic plan available

Aplos 

Aplos is fund-accounting software for small nonprofits and churches.

It supports fund accounting, donor management, budgeting, contribution statements, event registration and integrated bank feeds.

Key Features:

  • Fund accounting for nonprofits
  • Donor management and contribution tracking
  • Budget management and contribution statements
  • Event registration capabilities
  • Integrated bank feeds

User Feedback: Reviews note that Aplos helps track donors and produce year-end contribution statements. But users complain about the absence of a desktop version, slow web portal and the need for additional modules (e.g., shopping cart).

Users like its nonprofit-specific design (fund accounting), but some report it can be pricey and has a learning curve.

Pricing:

  • Lite: $79/month
  • Core: $129/month
  • Advanced: $229/month
  • New customers receive 50% off the first three months

Free Trial: 15 days, no credit card required

Donorbox 

Donorbox is a donation platform that provides embeddable forms, donation pages, peer-to-peer fundraising and donor-management tools.

It supports multiple payment methods including cards, PayPal and bank transfers.

Key Features:

  • Embeddable donation forms and donation pages
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns
  • Multiple payment methods (cards, PayPal, bank transfers)
  • Donor management tools

User Experience: Users appreciate Donorbox's affordability and generous free tier. But they caution that integration costs and processing fees can make it expensive for growing nonprofits.

Some small organizations feel the fees are high for low-volume donors. Users praise its ease and minimal fees for smaller organizations, but note that large clubs may want more advanced database tools.

Pricing:

  • Standard: Free (2.95%-3.95% platform fee per donation)
  • Pro: $150/month (1.75%-2% platform fee, includes advanced features like AI-based outreach)
  • Premium: Custom pricing

Free Trial: Standard plan is free; no time-limited trial

SignUpGenius 

SignUpGenius is an online volunteer and event sign-up platform.

It allows organizers to create sign-up sheets, collect RSVPs, send email and text reminders, and embed sign-ups on websites.

Key Features:

  • Online volunteer signup sheets and RSVP collection
  • Email and text reminders
  • Website embedding options
  • Event sign-up management

User Reviews: Capterra reviewers like its ease of use (people can see who signed up) but criticize the dated user interface and ads on the free plan.

Others appreciate the ability to list needed items and quantities but note that it looks old-fashioned and takes time to set up templates.

It's highly rated for simplicity and as a "simple way to recruit volunteers".

Pricing:

  • Basic: Free (with ads)
  • Starter: $8.99/month or $107.89/year
  • Essentials: $22.49/month or $269.89/year
  • Premium: $44.99/month or $539.89/year
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

Free Trial: No free trial; free Basic plan available

Givebutter

Givebutter is a fundraising platform offering donation forms, crowdfunding pages, peer-to-peer campaigns, event ticketing and auctions.

Donor-covered optional tips fund the platform so organizations pay little or no fees.

Key Features:

  • Donation forms and crowdfunding pages
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns
  • Event ticketing and auction tools
  • Multiple payment options (including Venmo)
  • Donor-tip funding model

User Sentiment: Users praise Givebutter's ease of use, ability for donors to cover fees, and comprehensive dashboard.

Some desire more features (better ticket-holder management, custom sponsorships) and note the flat 1% platform fee when tips are disabled, plus limited admin permissions for editing payments.

It's highly rated (4.8 stars on Software Advice) and it's free to start (tips-based revenue).

Pricing:

  • Free when donors add optional tips
  • If tips disabled: 1% platform fee on donations, 3% on fundraising pages, 5% on events/auctions
  • Processing fees: 2.9% + 30¢ (1.9% + 30¢ for ACH)
  • Givebutter Plus: Contact-based pricing for larger organizations

Free Trial: Free by default; no time-limited trial

What Real Users Say (From Reddit, LinkedIn & Forums)

Let's cut through the marketing fluff. Here's what actual booster club leaders are saying:

The Good

MoneyMinder gets consistent praise for financial management. One Reddit user shared: "MoneyMinder does a great job of tracking our budget" and noted it "only costs us $300/year".

Users appreciate its PTO/booster focus, though some mention a learning curve for new seasons.

Cheddar Up wins points for ease of use. Users like its "user-friendly interface" for collecting dues and donations.

SignUpGenius is beloved for volunteer coordination. Users say it's "simple and free" for basic signup needs. Highly rated as a "simple way to recruit volunteers".

The Complaints

Transaction fees are a universal pain point. CheddarUp's fees are called "too high", and it lacks built-in auction or advanced event tools.

Missing features frustrate users. Beyond MoneyMinder's check printing issue, users cite limitations like CheddarUp requiring "internet connectivity for card readers".

Outdated interfaces turn off tech-savvy volunteers. The biggest issues cited: cost/fees, limited features in basic plans, required online connectivity.

TeamSnap is sometimes used by athletic boosters, but Reddit users call it "not very intuitive" for year-over-year fundraising and communications.

The Bottom Line

Across forums and review sites, the same themes emerge:

  • Needed integrations are missing
  • Pricing plans are complex
  • Mobile apps occasionally have bugs

Booster clubs want affordable, easy-to-use platforms that integrate multiple functions without hidden surprises.

FAQ About Booster Club Software

What is booster club software?

Booster club software helps school support organizations manage memberships, collect dues, organize events, track finances, and communicate with parents — all in one platform instead of juggling multiple tools.

Do booster clubs need dedicated software or can they use Excel?

While small clubs might start with spreadsheets, software becomes essential as you grow.

Many booster clubs still rely on manual processes (spreadsheets, cash boxes, email groups), but there's clear momentum toward digital solutions for membership management, fundraising, and bookkeeping.

What's the best free booster club software?

Givebutter, SignUpGenius, and MemberPlanet offer robust free tiers.

However, Join It's 30-day free trial lets you test a full-featured platform risk-free.

Which tools are best for fundraising vs. accounting vs. volunteers?

Fundraising:Cheddar Up, Givebutter, DonorboxA

Accounting:MoneyMinder, Aplos

Volunteers:SignUpGenius

All-in-One:Join It, Membership Toolkit

How do I choose the best option for my booster club?

Start with your biggest pain point.

Struggling with dues collection? Try payment-focused tools.

Volunteers burning out from coordination tasks? Test comprehensive platforms like Join It.

Final Thoughts

There's no "perfect" booster club software that works for every organization.

Your high school football booster club has different needs than a middle school band parents group.

But here's what we know works:

Join It stands out as the most balanced option — offering membership management, event tools, and communication features without overwhelming volunteers or breaking budgets.

For Specialized Needs:

Accounting focus: MoneyMinder delivers nonprofit-specific financial tools
Pure fundraising: Givebutter and Cheddar Up excel at collecting money
Volunteer coordination: SignUpGenius keeps scheduling simple

The Smart Approach:

Take advantage of free trials. Test the platforms with your actual volunteer team. See what feels intuitive and what causes confusion.

Your booster club supports amazing programs that benefit kids and communities.

You deserve software that supports you back — not systems that create more work and frustration.

Ready to ditch the spreadsheets and join the digital age?

Start your free Join It trial today and see why organizations everywhere have made the switch.

Sources

  1. Cheddar Up. School fundraising report
  2. Global Growth Insights. Nonprofit software market reports
  3. Sage. Key findings 2024 nonprofit tech trends
  4. Nonprofit Pro. Study reveals technology's impact on associations member loyalty
  5. Reddit. Marching band booster parents tools discussion
  6. SoftwareAdvice: Review & Ratings 

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Enes Güneş
Head of Marketing

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