Start a Pledge Drive

Whether you need to raise funds for your organization, church group, youth ministry trip/camp, or for a charity, this is a wonderful way to get people involved!

This type of fund-raiser is a fun an interactive way to get a group of people to come together for a common goal. Here is all the information you will need to get started! You'll also find free download files for Volunteer Sign-up Sheets, Pledge Forms, Pledge Instructions, and Supply Lists. Don't forget, we offer Group Discounts on supply kits.

Essentially your group will collect a pledges amount of money per card created by volunteers, then the cards are sent out on behalf of your organization to the recipients of your choice.

Here's how it works:
Let's say you have 20 volunteers who gather 25 pledges of $1 per card, if they were to make 10 cards each, then each volunteer will collect $250, which raises a total of $5,000 for your organization, minus the cost of supplies.

Here are a few examples of Pledge Drives you can organize:

Example 1: Make supportive cards to send to the Armed Services as you raise money for your local organization.
Example 2: Make cheerful cards to send to the local Children's Hospital, Cancer Center, etc as you raise money for a relevant charity such as St. Jude's or the American Cancer Society.
Example 3: Make prayer cards for Missionary Groups as you raise money to help support their efforts or your local Church
Example 4: Have students volunteer to make cards to raise money for their youth group trip or youth missionary trip; these cards can be sent to the group of your choice whether hospital, armed services, or other relevant worthy cause.

Here are some simple steps to help get you started

Step 1: Determine the Project Scope
* Choose a cause such as your organization or charity
* Determine a time frame and goal for gathering pledges. A common time frame and goal is to allow for two weeks to collect pledges/donations, with a goal of at least 25-50 pledges per volunteer.
* Determine a time frame for completing the cards. Be realistic. Some organizations devote several hours each day over a chosen weekend or two; VBS and Youth Groups could devote a few hours each day or after school during the week
* Determine a time frame for collecting pledges. Be realistic. Most organizations allow for one week to collect all pledge funds.

Step 2: Gather Volunteers and Leaders.
* Determine a Group Leader or two, depending on the size of your effort.
* Encourage members of your organization or the general public to volunteer for the cause.
* Each volunteer will agree to Collect Pledges and Create Cards.
* Group Leaders will collect the cards and prepare them for shipping.

Step 3: Gather Pledges.
* Each volunteering member will collect pledges from his or her peer group or community.
* Pledges are per monetary donations per item pledged, in this case per card.
* Pledge Suggestion is $1-$5 per card created.

Step 4: Create Cards
* Make a fun interactive event of this as all volunteers gather in one place for one goal. Encourage a huddle-prayer before each event (if you have creation time spread over a weekend or a few days)
* Make sure to let volunteers know ahead of time if they are expected to provide their own scissors, glue sticks, or pens.
* Creation time should be within 3-6 hours, you don't want to burn out your volunteers
* Give the volunteers a daily creation goal for the time period.
* Plan a break mid-shift, for at least 15-30 minutes, to give volunteers a chance to check their progress, don't forget to say a prayer or peptalk.
* Encourage a party or pot luck at the very end of the event.

Step 5: Collect Cards and Pledges
* Group Leaders collect all the cards and Volunteer Pledge Forms.
* Prepare the cards to the mailed. Refer to the Mailing Information file below
* Volunteers will contact their Pledges with the total cards each made, they will then collect the pledged donations and submit each donation along with its respective Donator Pledge Form. Encourage each Volunteer to collect these within your specified time frame
* Once the Donations and Pledges are accounted for and the Cards are sent, Group Leaders are encouraged to send out an announcement to their Organization members, volunteers, and donators telling them of the good works they have been a part of. Feel free to give accounts of the cards made and money raised so they know what a good job they did.