PledgeStar gives schools and teams a smarter way to fundraise with transparent pricing, no hidden fees, and two ways to use the platform completely free.
No upfront cost. No surprises.
Same full PledgeStar features. Two ways to handle fees.
Set up your fundraiser in minutes and pay nothing to use PledgeStar. You keep everything you raise, minus standard credit card processing fees. Payments are processed via your PledgeStar specific Stripe account. During checkout, donors can choose to add a small optional contribution to keep the platform free.
Keep your current PledgeStar plan and let donors cover both platform and processing fees, turning a 7% cost into $0 out of pocket for your school. You can suggest a small percentage during checkout so 100% of their intended donation goes to your organization.
Whether you choose the free option or donor fee coverage, PledgeStar is designed to help you keep more of what you raise, not less.
Unlike traditional fundraising platforms, you're always in control of how fees are handled.
Prefer to stick with your existing PayPal or Stripe account? No problem. PledgeStar works seamlessly with your setup, and still gives you the option to let donors cover fees. Note: this option is only available on the current (7%) plan, not the new Free plan.
No tech skills required. If you have questions at any step, our team is here to walk you through it.
Set up your event in minutes. No technical skills required.
Automated emails, texts, and reminders drive donations.
Track results in real time as contributions roll in.
"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. We kept 100% for our school."
"We raised over $40,000 and didn't have to give nearly half of it away like we did before. Parents loved the simple system: grandparents from out of town could donate in seconds."
"We more than doubled our fundraising, 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."
Is the Free Plan actually free? No hidden fees?
Yes. PledgeStar charges zero platform fees on the Free Plan. You only pay standard credit card processing fees (charged by the payment processor, not PledgeStar). Cash and check donations have no fees at all.
What exactly is the donor fee coverage option?
During checkout, donors are shown an optional line item to cover your credit card and/or platform fees. You suggest the percentage: it's never forced. When enough donors opt in, your fundraiser can cost you absolutely nothing.
How does the $1,195 fee cap work?
On the 7% plan, you'll never pay more than $1,195 in platform fees, no matter how much you raise. Raise $20,000 and you pay $1,195 (about 6%). Raise $50,000 and you still pay $1,195 (about 2.4%). The more you raise, the better the deal.
Can I keep using my existing PayPal or Stripe account?
Absolutely. If you already have PayPal or Stripe set up and prefer to keep using it, those integrations are fully supported. You'll still have access to PledgeStar's donor fee coverage option to help offset any costs.
How quickly are funds transferred to my bank?
On the Free Plan, your funds are automatically transferred to your bank account monthly, or on a custom schedule that you set during event configuration. No need to manually request payouts.
What if I need help setting up the new Free option?
We're here for you. If you have any questions during the configuration process, simply contact our support team and we'll personally walk you through every step of the setup.
Join thousands of schools and teams that trust PledgeStar to run their most successful fundraisers, completely free.
Start Your Free Fundraiser →Questions? Call us at 1-949-215-4458 or email support@pledgestar.com