CRM: Pledges


Add a New Pledge

A pledge is a financial contract between a donor and charity/organization that the donor promises to make payment on in the future. 

  1. Select Pledges section on the left navigation bar 
  2. Click on Add a new Pledge 
  3. Search for the donor or add a new donor to the pledged gift 
  4. Choose the Pledge Type and complete the necessary steps
    1. Fixed Pledge Amount – One Payment  
      • This pledge type is similar to sending a one-time invoice and allows the donor to pay the entire pledge balance in one payment. 
        1. Choose the Billing Type of either Cash or Check or Credit Card
        2. Enter the Total Amount of the pledge 
        3. Choose the Schedule  
          • NOTE: Schedule is not applicable to a 1-time Fixed Pledge Amount, so the value entered is arbitrary.  
        4. Enter  the Pledge Details.  For additional information on these fields please see our Glossary 
        5. Enter custom field information, if applicable 
        6. Review details, and Submit 
    2. Fixed Pledge Amount – Multiple Payment 
      • This pledge type allows the donor to pledge a total amount and pay the pledge on a schedule (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, or user defined), until the pledge is fully paid (or written off). 
        1. Choose the Billing Type of either Cash or Check or Credit Card
        2. Enter the Start Date
        3. Enter the Total Amount of the pledge 
        4. Choose the Schedule  
          • Time frame the donor will be making scheduled payments 
          • Note: Unusual allows you to set a custom timetable

        5.   Adjust the Overpayment Method settings, as needed
        6.   Adjust the Underpayment Method, as needed
        7. Enter  the Pledge Details.  For additional information on these fields please see our Glossary 
        8. Enter custom field information, if applicable 
        9. Review details, and Submit 
    3. Perpetual Pledge – No End Date 
      • This pledge type is used for monthly giving programs. The donor pays a specific amount on a regular schedule in perpetuity until the donor decides to end their pledge. 
        1. Choose the Billing Type of either Cash or Check or Credit Card
        2. Enter the Billing Amount of the pledge
        3. Choose the Schedule
          • Time frame the donor will pay for this pledge 
        4. Adjust the Overpayment Method settings, as needed 
        5. Adjust the Underpayment Method, as needed 
        6. Enter the Pledge Details.  For additional information on these fields please see our Glossary 
        7. Enter custom field information, if applicable 
        8. Review details, and Submit 

NOTE: Pledge credit card payments set to automatically process will occur at 5:30 a.m. UTC. 


Change Pledge Payment Type

NOTE: Payment types changed to credit card will only change it for the one manually applied payment. 

  1. Select Pledges section on the left navigation bar 
  2. Click on Pledge Listing 
  3. Find the pledge and click on APPLY PAYMENT
  4. Click on Previous
  5. Change the Payment type  
  6. Click Next to now confirm the payment
  7. When you get to Step 4, apply to
    •  the proper payment account 
    • or add a payment account 
  8. Continue to confirm and submit payment for the pledge

Change Pledge Status

The status of a pledge can be changed between Status Open & Status Write-Off.  

Status Open

When the pledge is in Status Open, perpetual (recurring) pledges will be billed based on the cadence selected (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, annually).  

Status Write-Off

When a pledge is in Status Write-Off, this pledge will no longer be seen as funds needing to be collected or as future funding activity.  This will stop future perpetual (recurring) pledges from being processed. 

 Important to Note: If the status of a perpetual (recurring) pledge is modified to Status Write-Off, and at a future date, is then changed back to Status Open, this will trigger a charge for any missed recurring pledges. These will be charged daily until all missed recurring pledges are collected.  It is recommended to create a new perpetual (recurring) pledge if a donor wants to have their pledge reinstated.