Joanna Serra and Barbara Kent stepped onto the stage in Shark Tank Season 17 Episode 3 with a simple but clever idea. They created Fundraiser Blankets, a company that makes ultra-soft, customizable blankets designed to help schools and sports teams raise money.
Birdy Boutique to Fundraiser Blankets
Barbara is a combat veteran, and Joanna is an award-winning teacher. They launched Fundraiser Blankets together in 2023. What started as a simple idea to make fundraising easier has grown into a movement reaching schools and communities across the country.
Today, the sisters each earn about $100,000 a year from their customizable blanket business.
Operating out of Romeo, Michigan, Fundraiser Blankets made $8 million in sales in 2024. The company sells soft polyester blankets to more than 4,000 schools and sports teams for $10 to $20 each. Those groups then resell the blankets at their own prices to raise funds for their programs, according to the co-founders.
The duo had first started their venture under the name of Birdy Boutique in 2014. They started out by designing and selling educational products such as classroom tapestries and learning blankets on Amazon.
How Fundraiser Blankets Took Off
The sisters came up with the idea for Fundraiser Blankets in late 2022 after seeing how traditional school fundraisers in their children’s district, like selling popcorn or wrapping paper, were losing appeal. They wanted to create something fresh that people would actually be excited to buy.
In Serra’s own words, she describes it as “Fundraising is brutal. Your kid comes home with that sad little order form … meanwhile, you just got suckered into $60 worth of chocolate you didn’t even want.”
Their main customers include retailers, corporations, and government organizations. Fundraiser Blankets can be purchased from Meijer, Walgreens, Harris Teeter, UNFI, and online through Amazon, Walmart, and Lowe’s.
By 2024, they had teamed up with over 4,500 schools and sports teams, including the Duluth Wildcats, Luray Bulldogs, Universal Cheer Experience, and Aquilla Cougars.
Schools, sports teams, and community groups can connect through the website to either place custom bulk orders or organize a fundraiser before purchasing.
Their soft, high-quality, allergy-friendly blankets come in three sizes, priced between $10.50 and $15. On the show, they asked for $300,000 in exchange for 10% of the business.
Fundraiser Blankets Shark Tank Pitch
The sisters’ blankets wowed the Sharks with their softness and quality, but the numbers really stole the show. Fundraiser Blankets brought in $3 million in sales in 2023 and jumped to $8 million in 2024, all without taking on debt.
Lori Greiner called them “absolute rockstars,” and it was clear that every Shark wanted to tug this blanket in their corner. Kevin made the first move with an offer of $300,000 for 20%, while Lori quickly followed, offering the same amount for 15%, drawn to their energy and drive.
Greiner also added that she intended to contribute a portion of her future earnings to scholarship programs.
The Gaineses inquired about the competition in that market, to which the sisters replied, saying, “There are a couple of other companies targeting schools with custom blankets specifically, and we’ve outranked them on search engines by far. Eventually, we envision ourselves being a fundraising empire, because this industry has not been disrupted in a very long time.”
Chip, Joanna and Daniel had to step back with a heavy heart. Much to their dismay, the booming business didn’t fit their areas of expertise.
After a brief back-and-forth, it became clear the sisters were aligned with Lori. In the end, Joanna and Barbara struck a deal with Lori Greiner and Barbara Corcoran from the Tank.
The sisters ended up giving away slightly more equity than they would have if they had partnered with just one of the investors, but having two women in their corner felt like the right move.
Kent and Serra commented on Thursday, October 9, 2025, that the agreement is still pending.
What’s Next for Fundraiser Blankets?
Joanna Serra and Barbara Kent turned a simple frustration with school fundraisers into a booming business. What started as a small business called Birdy Boutique has now turned into a nationwide brand. Shark Tank fame has only further propelled this.
The cherry on top is having two girlboss Sharks on their side. They’ve built a brand that helps schools and communities raise money while offering a product people actually love.
The Shark Tank deal has generated plenty of buzz, but it hasn’t officially closed yet. Updates are expected as Barbara and Joanna hopefully finalize the agreement with Lori and Barbara Corcoran. Meanwhile, Fundraiser Blankets keeps riding on the wave of the Shark Tank effect.
