Boost My School raises $10M to simplify fundraising for K-12 schools nationwide

Boost My School has raised $10 million to rethink how K-12 advancement teams rally support from their communities. The fresh funding round was led by High Alpha with backing from Far Out VC, Ground Game, Allos Ventures, and several strategic angels, including Scot Chisholm, the founder of Classy, which GoFundMe acquired in 2022.

The EdTech startup began from a personal frustration. Founder and CEO Holman Gao once had to write a check to support his old high school math team. The process felt outdated, so he set out to build a platform that would make school fundraising simpler and more effective. What started as a fix for one team’s problem has since grown into a platform used by hundreds of schools to manage everything from annual giving and reunions to auctions, golf outings, and giving days.

“I started Boost to help my high school fundraise in a modern way — to give them the resources and purpose-built solution K-12 advancement teams need to fundraise like larger institutions,” Gao said. “Boost levels the playing field, providing schools with an innovative, intuitive platform and suite of tools they need to raise funds efficiently and focus on what matters most: supporting their students’ futures.”

With $10M in New Funding, Boost My School Aims to Transform How K-12 Schools Engage Donors

That vision has already produced results. The company says schools using Boost doubled year-over-year, and last school year alone, its customers raised over $100 million. Events powered by the platform have crossed the million-dollar mark. Retention is strong too, with a 98% renewal rate and an NPS score of 85.

Schools say the platform has become a key part of their advancement strategy. “With the strategic leadership of our annual giving team, we’ve been able to transform our fundraising approach,” said Meredith Robbins, chief advancement officer at Polytechnic School. “Boost has been a valuable partner in that work. The platform is uniquely designed for the needs of K-12 schools and has helped us create a seamless experience for donors. We’re now working more efficiently, engaging more donors and making better use of our time and tools.”

The new funding will help Boost expand its team and deepen its focus on K-12 fundraising. For investors like High Alpha, the market is wide open. “Boost is revolutionizing fundraising for K-12 advancement teams,” said Mike Fitzgerald, partner and co-founder at High Alpha. “Their ability to streamline fundraising for this underserved market is critical for the long-term success of these institutions. We’re thrilled to invest in Holman and the team as they scale and continue to deliver exceptional value to schools nationwide.”

Independent and faith-based schools such as The Governor’s Academy, Lakeside School, and Cathedral High School already use the platform. Boost says its purpose-built model helps schools cut through scattered workflows, consolidate tools, and focus on what matters: raising the money needed to support their students and staff.