Pledges Explained
When a recipient hasn't set up their Stripe account yet, donations don't disappear — they become pledges. Here's how that works.
What Is a Pledge?
A pledge is a saved donation that's waiting to be fulfilled. It happens when:
- A donor gives to a page where one or more recipients haven't connected their Stripe account yet
- The donor's payment method (card) is securely saved with Stripe
- The donor is not charged until the recipient connects and the pledge is fulfilled
Your money is safe. Pledges use Stripe's SetupIntent — your card details are stored securely by Stripe and you are only charged when the pledge is fulfilled or you confirm. You're always in control.
How a Pledge Gets Fulfilled
- Donor pledges. A donor gives to a page. Because a recipient hasn't connected yet, the donation becomes a pledge. The donor is shown a message explaining this.
- Recipient has a window to connect. The recipient receives reminders to connect their Stripe account. They have 14 days to do so.
- Recipient connects. Once the recipient connects Stripe, all pending pledges for that page are automatically processed. The donor's card is charged and the recipient receives their funds.
- Donor receives receipt. After the pledge is fulfilled, the donor gets a full receipt showing the completed donation.
What If the Recipient Doesn't Connect in Time?
If the recipient doesn't connect their Stripe account within the 14-day window, the following happens:
- The donor is notified by email
- The donor can choose to keep the pledge active in case the recipient connects later
- Or the donor can cancel the pledge — no charge is ever made
You're never charged without consent. If a pledge is cancelled, your card is never charged. You retain full control over your donation at all times.
For Recipients: Connecting Before Pledges Expire
If you're a recipient with pending pledges, here's what to know:
- You'll receive email reminders about pending pledges as the deadline approaches
- Connect your Stripe account as soon as possible to ensure pledges are fulfilled
- Once you connect, all pending pledges for pages you're on will be automatically processed
- You can see pending pledges in your Recipient Dashboard
For Page Creators: Minimizing Pledges
Pledges happen when recipients aren't connected yet. To minimize them:
- Invite recipients before you publish and promote your page
- Follow up with recipients who haven't connected — you can resend their invitation from your page settings
- Explain to recipients why connecting quickly is important for donors
Best practice: Wait until all your recipients have connected Stripe before launching your page publicly. This ensures every donation is processed immediately with no pledges.