Pledge cards explained: 9 free templates for nonprofits

Your supporters may be excited to help you reach your fundraising goals, but they’re not always ready or able to donate immediately. With pledge cards, empower them to commit their support for your cause in the future. 

In this article, we’ll boil down everything you need to know about these handy cards and how they can help you reach your fundraising goals. Plus, we’ve got several pledge card examples and templates you can put to use for all kinds of occasions. 

What is a pledge card? 

A pledge card is a form that allows donors to donate to your cause by promising to give at a later date. With a donor pledge card, you collect your supporters’ contact information, payment details, the amount they’d like to donate, and other details. 

Unlike instant donations, pledges are agreements to give in the future. Offering cards to your supporters provides another method to secure their commitment—especially if they’d prefer to give monthly, send a major gift, or fill in a physical form rather than use a donation page online.

How does a pledge card work?

Pledge cards are often handed out in person at events or sent with a letter in a direct mail campaign, but they can also be digital. With only a handful of essential fields to fill in, they make committing to give an easy option for your supporters.

Some popular ways to use pledge cards in your fundraising efforts include:

• Collecting large contributions at an in-person gala
• Jotting down planned contributions during a one-on-one donor phone call
• Securing major gifts from an annual fundraiser
• Winning sponsorships or matching gifts for an upcoming event
• Attracting one-off donations for a specific initiative

Why pledge cards are useful

If you host events or want to make your direct mail or email campaigns more engaging, pledge cards are the way to go. They offer the ability to feel good about supporting your cause in the moment without having to stop to write a check or pull out their credit card on the spot. 

Other benefits of using pledge cards include: 

✅ Enhanced donation tracking: Keep a detailed record of pledgers, their contact details, and the amount they pledged for easy follow-up.

✅ Increased ability to forecast incoming support: Visualize the frequency and amount of donations over several months or years.

✅ Higher number of donors giving monthly: Quick and easy cards make it a breeze to commit to making a recurring gift.

✅ Better insights into donor behavior: Capture valuable donor data to round out your supporter profiles.

✅ More engaging experience for supporters: Allow donors to customize their pledge with different options on the card.

5 ways to make the most of pledge cards

A significant advantage of pledge cards is that they’re very user-friendly. It’s as simple as filling in the donor’s details and then processing the donation at the agreed time. To make the most of your cards, follow these expert tips. 

1. Define your goal 🎯

Before you add pledge cards to your next campaign, decide on your fundraising goal. Do you want to attract more major donors, encourage gala guests to donate while at your event, or secure a significant investment from a long-standing supporter?

Once you have established a primary goal, ensure all decisions regarding the pledge card keep this in focus. Your goal influences the wording you use, how you design your card, and where you distribute it, so it’s important to decide what you need the most.

2. Include all the essential elements 📝

Because pledge cards are processed later, it is essential to collect all necessary details from your donor upfront. This will prevent you from having to contact them for more information and from being unable to complete the donation process.

Your card should include: 

• Organization’s name
• Organization’s contact information
• Donor’s name
• Donor’s contact information (e.g., address, phone number, email address)
• Donor’s pledge (e.g., an agreement to donate a specific amount of money)
• Payment option preference and payment details (e.g., with a check or credit card or by making their donation online)

You can include other elements, but these are the must-haves for a functional card. Avoid adding too many extra details, though—you want the focus to be on encouraging your donor to take your highest-value action.

3. Design your pledge card for maximum impact 🎨

It’s important not just what you include on your donor pledge card, but how you present it, too. Be intentional with your design and word choice to increase the card’s effectiveness.

Keep language clear and direct, focusing on the action you want your supporter to take—making a pledge. Offer several pledge amount options, along with a space for donors to suggest their own. Use checkboxes, short lines of text, and plenty of white space to make it easier for donors to fill out.

Another way to drive impact is by explaining how your donor’s contribution will make a difference. Include a line that describes how valuable their pledge is or what a specific pledge amount will do for your campaign.

4. Send a personalized follow-up message ✉️

Your donor has successfully completed a pledge card, but your work isn’t over yet. After you’ve processed their pledge or donation, send a thoughtful and personalized follow-up message.

This message is the perfect opportunity to begin (or strengthen) a relationship with your donor. Express your gratitude, communicate the impact of their donation, and invite them to be involved in your community—for example, by mentioning a social group, upcoming event, or your social media pages.

5. Use software to help you track your pledge campaign 🖥️

One of the benefits of pledge cards is that it’s easier to keep track of pledged donations. Instead of doing this manually with a spreadsheet, however, we recommend using donor management software (like Givebutter!) to streamline the process.

Givebutter’s pledge management tools help you keep track of every single pledge, so you don’t miss out on those vital promised donations. Collect and store donor and pledge details, offer different payment options, and send personalized reminders to your supporters. 

Download our free pledge card templates

Designing an effective pledge card can be time-consuming. If you have a tight schedule or want a more convenient solution, use our free donation pledge card templates.

Each donation pledge form has been designed for optimal ease of use and impact, and there are plenty of different scenario samples to choose from, including pledge cards for church, special events, and more. 

Freebie alert!

Download free pledge card templates fit for any occasion ->

9 examples of pledge cards in action

Want to know how these pledge card templates look in person? Here’s a quick visual guide to each of our sample pledge cards.

1. General pledge card 😀

Looking for a pledge card donation form template that can be used for ongoing appeals and is easy to customize? Our general pledge card template is a great foundation for asking for donations of any type or size, for any reason.

2. Event pledge card 🎥

Attract your donors’ attention and convert those ideas into promises with our event-specific pledge card template. Personalize the wording to match your unique event and outline how each donation moves your organization closer to your target.

3. Capital campaign pledge card 💰

Raising money against a deadline for an important project? Our capital campaign pledge card is designed to help you secure pledges from your community members quickly, with impact statements that encourage your donor’s support.

4. Church pledge card ⛪

Make it simple for your congregation to give their support without handing over dollars straight away by using this church pledge card template. Personalize it with your church’s name and include information about how certain dollar amounts can make a greater impact.

5. Monthly giving pledge card 📅

Turn potential donors into loyal supporters with our monthly giving pledge card template. Add your organization’s details and the branded name of your VIP monthly givers, and you have a personalized pledge card to attract ongoing funds.

6. Annual appeal pledge card 🎉

Celebrate your organization’s success over the last year and gain pledges for the one ahead with our annual appeal pledge card. This card template is ideal for maximizing the feel-good vibe that comes with announcing your achievements.

7. Company sponsorship pledge card 💼

This company sponsorship pledge card can convert interested organizations into corporate partners. It includes space for you to outline your collaboration and how their organization’s funds will directly impact the community.

8. Matching donation pledge card 🤝

Encourage major donors to amplify the impact of contributions with our matching donation pledge card template. Designed for donors who commit to matching funds, this card collects key details like the total matching amount, payment preferences, and timeline. Personalize it to make matching donations seamless, ensuring every dollar raised goes even further in supporting your cause.

9. Item donation pledge card 🎫

Looking for a more efficient method to collect items for a fundraising campaign or prize donations for an auction or event? Use this item donation pledge card to secure promises of physical goods so you can ensure you have incredible items or prizes for your next event.

Freebie alert!

Download all 9 pledge card templates for free ->

Manage pledges the easy way with Givebutter

Pledge cards offer your supporters a convenient way to promise their support for the future. Put together your own pledge cards using our templates and introduce your donors to a new way to give. 

Pair your shiny new pledge cards with Givebutter’s pledge management tools for a streamlined and buttery smooth way to receive, track, and celebrate pledges. 

With a free nonprofit CRM built into our all-in-one fundraising platform, Givebutter offers everything nonprofits need for donor management, plus a full spread of world-class donation tools, fundraising pages, event management features, peer-to-peer campaigns, email marketing, and so much more. 

Sign up for your free account today and see how Givebutter can transform your fundraising for good.