99Pledges is completely free—yes, really! The only fee you’re responsible for is the standard credit card fee of 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction, which is automatically deducted from your funds at the end of your fundraiser.
When will we get paid?
We process payments within one business day of your request (check via mail or bank direct deposit). In some cases, a minimal delay may occur to protect against fraud.
Are there fees for cash/checks entered online?
No. You keep 100% of cash and check donations, and we’ll even help you track them for free.
How do donations work with an online platform?
It’s simple! Your donors make their gifts online via participants’ personal donation pages. We accept credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
Campaign Setup
How do I create participant pledge pages?
We can set them up for you! There are three setup methods; ideally, you’ll send us an Excel file with each participant’s name, parent email(s), and group name. However, we can also make your pages with just participants’ names and groups, or parents can add their child to the fundraiser using the “Add Me” function.
Why is having individual donation pages better?
Think of it like this: do you think Grandma is more likely to donate to her granddaughter Sally, or to a general donation page? Plus, these pages encourage kids to engage in some healthy competition by tracking their progress, leading to more donations.
Should I get parents’ permission?
Some groups ask for permission, but most use an opt-out approach. They send out a message explaining the program and asking parents to let them know if they do not want to participate.
Privacy & Security
Are my emails safe?
Yes, we take your privacy extremely seriously. We will not send any marketing materials to the emails you provide, nor will we share your email addresses or system information with any third parties.
Is my credit card information secure?
We process payments within one business day of your request (check via mail or bank direct deposit). In some cases, a minimal delay may occur to protect against fraud.
Does 99Pledges protect our kids’ privacy?
Yes! 99Pledges is compliant with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) because we do not gather any information directly from children under 13. We also protect your kids’ privacy by allowing you to codify their classroom group, referring to them only by their first name and last initial, and ensuring that school and student fundraising pages can only be found by someone with a direct link.
Getting Started
Who’s using 99Pledges?
99Pledges is a great fit for many different types of groups, including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, sports teams, clubs, and local nonprofits.
I’ve received a sample campaign. Now what?
Log in to your 99Pledges account with your email and password and make any edits to the URL, wording, image, end date, settings, and goals. Then, add your participants (we’re happy to help with uploading!) and launch your fundraiser by clicking “Invite All Participants to Their Page.”
I’ve used 99Pledges before. How do I create a copy of a past fundraiser?
First, access the “Your Fundraisers” page by logging into your existing account. You can create a copy of a previous fundraiser by clicking on the down arrow icon on the right-hand side. Then, scroll down and update the URL page. That’s it!
How can I get help with navigating the platform?
For more specific help, check out our FAQ for navigating the platform. We’ll help you troubleshoot any confusion about entering results, moving donations, uploading images, and more.
Have more questions?
Click the blue icon in the lower right corner to send us a message. We typically respond within just a few minutes.