Forget going door-to-door for donations or making awkward phone calls. With PledgeStar, skip all the in-person soliciting!
Our platform simplifies fundraising, engaging your community without the hassle.
In a pledge drive, students ask for donations from family and friends to help fund programs and equipment that enrich their education. Unlike Jog-A-Thons, Walk-A-Thons, or Read-A-Thons, Pledge Drives require no specific event to raise money.
Pledge drives deliver the easiest way for schools to raise big money, and they don't require students to sell and distribute products. Plus, schools often introduce incentive tiers to boost contributions, fostering a competitive spirit among participants.
Plan Your Pledge Drive
First, choose the pledge drive that best fits your organization ‐ whether it's an event-based option like a Jog-A-Thon or a more flexible one like a Read-A-Thon.
Decide if you will use flat pledges (fixed amounts) or variable pledges (based on performance, such as per lap in a Jog-A-Thon), or offer both.
Pick a catchy event name and set key dates, including a pep rally and the fundraising deadline.
Organize the Logistics
Choose PledgeStar as your fundraising platform to streamline the process. Make sure to set up your event details, including the duration of the drive and any specific requirements for in-person events.
Recruit volunteers to help organize and manage the event. Encourage participants to reach out to their networks for pledges.
Promote the Event
Effective promotion is key! Use flyers, social media, and community outreach to boost awareness. Create a unique hashtag to engage supporters and inspire sharing.
Make it simple for offline donors with easy-to-use pledge cards. Motivate contributions with tiered rewards ‐ think merchandise, gift cards, or event recognition ‐ to encourage higher pledges from donors and participants.
Execute the Drive
Ensure everything runs smoothly on the day of the event or throughout the campaign. With donations coming in before and during the event, the dashboard allows you to track progress, update participants on milestones, and maintain a lively atmosphere to boost engagement.
Collect the Funds
Unlike other platforms, which transfer your proceeds when the fundraiser ends, PledgeStar ensures donations go straight into your account the moment they're made!
This immediate access allows you to manage your funds throughout the entire campaign. By the time your event concludes, you've already got the funds in the account. All that's left is deciding how to make the most of the resources you've raised.
Follow Up and Express Gratitude
After the drive concludes, take time to thank everyone involved ‐ donors, participants, and volunteers. Strengthen relationships by sending personalized thank-you notes, and remind donors of their pledges. Use this opportunity to share updates on how their contributions are making an impact and offer ways they can continue supporting your organization in the future.
With PledgeStar, the average student raises over $175. That's more than any other platform. Why? Because we make it fun and easy to ask more family and friends for donations with automated emails, texts, social media, and more.
Learn MorePledgeStar is built by parents of school age children who know that every dollar counts. PledgeStar charges only 7% of online donations, but never more than $1,195. That could save you thousands!
Learn MoreWith PledgeStar, you work with a Pledge Drive Specialist dedicated to helping you squeeze every last dollar from your fundraiser. And if you need help, we're always a quick call or email away.
Get to Know UsYou'll start to see donations rolling in after about five minutes entering family and friends. No awkward phone calls. No waiting for checks. No door-to-door soliciting.
Learn MoreGetting started and staying on top of your fundraiser couldn't be easier. PledgeStar's dashboard lets you see summary statistics at a glance, and it's easy-to-use reports let you drill down into the nitty gritty.
Learn MoreEvery school has their own unique fundraising needs. That's why we designed PledgeStar to work the way you do, instead of the other way around.
Get to Know UsWe made it easier to ask more people. Just follow these 3 Steps
After your site goes live, send your families the registration link. They follow the simple on-screen instructions to register their students and enter their family and friends.
Family and friends follow the link they receive, enter a donation amount and choose whether to pay securely by credit card, PayPal, or check.
Administrators can log in to PledgeStar any time to track the fundraiser's real-time progress with our easy-to-use event overview dashboard and reports.
Use the slider below to see what your event will make on average based on the number of pledgees as opposed to the competition. Pssst. It's considerably more!
With PledgeStar
$14,000
With Competition
$10,000
USE PLEDGESTAR
SINCE 2016
RAISED PER STUDENT
HARBOR VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
I have used PledgeStar for the past two years. I have
family all over the world and was able to get pledges
within 24 hours after setting up.
KUMEYAAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PledgeStar made fundraising effortless, not just for us,
but for our families too. It was easy to set up,
intuitive to use, and powerful in results. We raised
over $40,000 and didn’t have to give nearly half of it
away like we did before. Parents loved the simple online
system, grandparents from out of town could donate in
seconds, and we got to keep the money for what matters,
our students, teachers, and programs.
WAGON WHEEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PledgeStar completely transformed our jog-a-thon. What
used to raise $17,000 now brings in over $85,000,
without the need for third-party vendors taking a
massive cut. It’s incredibly user-friendly for parents
and grandparents, even those who aren't tech-savvy. All
it takes is a link and a few clicks. Volunteers love how
simple it is to manage, and the system handles
reminders, emails, and donor tracking automatically.
With just a few committee members and PledgeStar, we
were able to run a fully funded, highly successful
event, and keep 100% of the money for our school.
LOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PledgeStar was a game-changer for our school. Instead of
just writing checks, families tapped into relatives and
friends across the country, and even overseas. From
first-time users to seasoned organizers, everyone found
it intuitive, fast, and surprisingly personal. We more
than doubled our fundraising, jumping from $32,000 to
nearly $60,000, and got to keep almost every dollar.
It’s efficient, secure, and makes fundraising feel easy
for everyone involved.
Our free e-book contains a wealth of practical tips about making the most of your next Pledge Drive, gained from our experiences working with thousands of schools. And it's yours, absolutely free.
Get Your Free Copy