We're Parents
Just Like You.
PledgeStar was born from a real fundraising challenge at a real school, by three dads who decided to do something about it.
From a School Parking Lot to a National Platform
PledgeStar is the brainchild of Steve Kramer, Erik Lackey, and Robb Glen, neighbors, successful entrepreneurs, and dads first and foremost.
Having experienced the frustrations of pledge drives at their own children's school, and with the annual Jog-A-Thon fast approaching, they started brainstorming how technology could take the pain out of fundraising and help schools raise significantly more money.
PledgeStar launched its first three Jog-A-Thon websites in January 2013. Since then, thousands of schools across the United States have adopted PledgeStar and raised over $450 million in the process.
And the best part? Schools keep the vast majority of what they raise. PledgeStar's model is built on transparent, low percentage-based fees, capped so they never spiral, meaning more money stays where it belongs: with the kids.
The Three Dads Behind PledgeStar
Neighbors, entrepreneurs, and fathers who turned a school fundraising headache into a platform that's helped millions of families raise more, and keep more.
Steve Kramer
Steve built the technology backbone that powers PledgeStar: from automated emails and real-time tracking to the seamless donor experience parents love. As CEO, he leads the company's vision and day-to-day direction.
Erik Lackey
Erik oversees operations and partnerships, ensuring every school and team that joins PledgeStar gets everything they need to run a successful fundraiser. His motto: no school left behind.
Robb Glen
Originally from New Zealand, Robb brought a global perspective and entrepreneurial energy to PledgeStar from day one.
The Rest of the PledgeStar Team
The support specialists, engineers, and coordinators who help every school and team raise more, every day. From answering questions to keeping the platform running smoothly, this is the crew working behind the scenes on every fundraiser.
Software Development
Building and improving the platform so fundraisers launch fast and run without a hitch.
Administration
Keeping the day-to-day details on track so the rest of the team can focus on schools and teams.
Production
Turning every fundraiser's details into a polished, ready-to-launch campaign.
Organization Support
Helping coordinators and coaches get set up, get answers, and get their fundraiser off the ground.
Family Support
Guiding parents and participants through every step, from first message to final donation.
Donor Support
Making it easy for donors to give, with quick, friendly help whenever a question comes up.
From an Idea to a National Movement
Three school dads, frustrated with outdated pledge drive processes, began sketching out a better way to fundraise using the power of the internet and mobile sharing.
PledgeStar's first three Jog-A-Thon websites go live. Schools immediately see results: more donations, less admin work, and happier parents.
Word spreads fast. Hundreds of schools, sports teams, and booster clubs across the country adopt PledgeStar, collectively raising tens of millions of dollars.
As in-person events paused, PledgeStar helped schools and teams pivot to fully virtual fundraisers, keeping communities connected and funds flowing when it mattered most.
Thousands of schools and organizations across the U.S. trust PledgeStar to power their fundraisers, with transparent pricing and millions of families engaged every year.
Our Core Values
Every decision we make comes back to these four beliefs.
Schools First
Every feature we build starts with one question: does this help schools raise more money with less stress?
Radical Transparency
No hidden fees. No surprises. You always know exactly what you'll pay, and it's always less than the competition.
Simple by Design
Any parent, coach, or coordinator can launch in minutes, no training, no tech skills, no manual required.
Community Driven
We're parents too. Our best features come from listening to the schools and teams we serve, and building what they ask for.
What Schools Are Saying
"Wow! PledgeStar exceeded our expectations. We raised double what we did last year, and our parents loved how easy it was to share with family and friends."
"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."
"PledgeStar completely transformed our jog-a-thon. What used to raise $17,000 now brings in over $85,000, without third-party vendors taking a massive cut. With just a few committee members, we ran a fully funded, highly successful event and kept 100% of the money for our school."
How to Raise 2x More
for Your Cause
Get the expert tips used by thousands of schools and teams to raise more, and keep more, no matter what you're fundraising for.
It's absolutely free. No commitment required.
Ready to Write Your Own Success Story?
With no platform fees. Tell us a bit about your group and we'll take it from there.
Why Thousands of Groups Choose PledgeStar
From the school parking lot to a national platform, our story has always been about one thing: helping organizations raise more and keep more, without platform fees.
- No platform fees, ever. Donors can optionally help cover costs.
- Automated emails and texts do the asking for you.
- Real-time dashboard to track every donation as it comes in.
- Dedicated support team to help you launch and grow.