A donor's promise to give a specified amount, often paid in installments over time.
A pledge is a commitment by a donor to contribute a specific amount, frequently fulfilled through a series of payments over months or years rather than all at once. Pledges are common in capital campaigns and major-gift fundraising, where donors make multi-year commitments.
Nonprofits track pledges separately from received gifts, monitoring the balance still outstanding and sending reminders as installments come due. Strong pledge management improves cash-flow forecasting and reduces the share of commitments that go unfulfilled.
Because a pledge represents an expected future gift, accurate record-keeping in a nonprofit CRM is essential. The accounting treatment of pledges on financial statements can be nuanced, so organizations should follow guidance from a qualified accountant.
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A focused, time-limited fundraising effort to raise a large sum for a specific major goal such as a building or endowment.
Donations set up to repeat automatically on a schedule, such as monthly or annually.
A large donation that is significant enough to warrant individualized cultivation and stewardship.
A central system that manages a nonprofit's relationships with donors, volunteers, members, and other constituents.
Manage donors, volunteers, members, and events together in one nonprofit platform, for one predictable subscription with no cut taken from donations.
