PledgeCents
PledgeCents is an online fundraising service for educational opportunities and other community needs.
What PledgeCents is
PledgeCents is an online fundraising service for educational opportunities and other community needs. It provides fundraising pages for PreK–12 schools, nonprofits, youth sports teams, and faith-based needs. A campaign can receive the amount raised even when it falls short of its goal, and each page includes a backup plan for using the funds. There is no platform fee; payment processing is 3%, and PledgeCents says users receive 97% of funds raised. Contributors can pay by card or bank account, with Stripe processing transactions. Approved organization accounts receive funds by check, not individual creators; the FAQ says checks are sent within 48 hours after a page is complete. Pages support social sharing and automatic email updates to investors when creators post. Fundraising tools include contests, matching campaigns, and a referral system that can earn cash toward a fundraiser. The service has web and API platforms, though API access is limited to partners. Its free fundraising page costs nothing, with no upfront costs, contracts, or subscriptions.
Good
- Free page with no platform fee
- Fundraisers can keep funds below goal
- Cards and bank accounts accepted
- Email updates and social sharing supported
- Checks go to verified organizations
Watch out
- Payment processing fee is 3%
- API access is limited to partners
- Payouts are sent by check to organizations
Who it suits
PledgeCents suits schools, nonprofits, youth sports teams, and faith-based groups seeking online fundraising pages. It may also fit organizations that want flexible goal funding and social sharing.
Verdict
PledgeCents offers a free way for eligible organizations to raise funds, with flexible goal handling and several campaign tools. Note the processing fee and that payouts go by check to the verified organization.
Plans and prices
From PledgeCents's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free fundraising page | Free | No upfront costs, contracts, or subscriptions · 0% platform fee · 3% payment processing fee |
The facts
Each one read from PledgeCents's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API access
- The API is currently available only to PledgeCents partners and uses a unique API key for request validation.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Customer support
- After a page is approved and goes live, PledgeCents says an expert may arrange a one-on-one call with personalized fundraising strategies.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Fees
- PledgeCents charges no platform fee; payment processing is 3%, and the benefits page says users receive 97% of funds raised.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Flexible funding
- Fundraisers can receive the money raised even if they do not reach their goal, and pages include a backup plan for using the funds.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Fundraising incentives
- The platform describes contests, dollar-for-dollar matching campaigns, Facebook matching campaigns, and a referral system that can earn cash toward a fundraiser.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Organization verification
- PledgeCents says each organization account is verified before approval and funds are sent by check to the organization rather than the individual creator.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Payment processing
- Stripe handles financial transactions, and contributors can pay by credit card or bank account without needing a Stripe account.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Payout timing
- The FAQ says PledgeCents sends a check to the organization within 48 hours after a fundraising page is complete.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The How It Works page says PledgeCents never shares private information for page creators, donors, or the young adults helped by fundraisers.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- PledgeCents helps communities fund educational opportunities and other community needs through online fundraising.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Sharing and updates
- Fundraisers support social media sharing and automatic email updates to investors when the creator posts an update.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Who can fundraise
- Fundraising pages are available for PreK–12 schools, nonprofits, youth sports teams, and faith-based needs.checked 7 Oct 2026
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