Village Christian Elementary in Sun Valley, CA, has a history of success with PledgeStar. “We’ve been using PledgeStar for 4 years,” explains Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) president Kristen Reynolds. “We were searching online for a platform that would help us conduct our fundraisers in a better way when we found PledgeStar. We were looking for something very user-friendly.”

After spending a couple years using competing platforms for the school’s two major fundraisers, the PTF realized they could successfully use PledgeStar for both. “In the fall we have a Read A Thon,” Ms. Reynolds explains. “And in the spring we have Race for Education, our Jog-A-Thon. We’ve always used PledgeStar for Race for Education but were using another platform for the Read A Thon. Once we realized PledgeStar would work for both events, we switched both fundraisers to PledgeStar.”

As all schools know, online fundraising platforms can promise success, but they only work if families are on board with the program and schools find it easy to use. “PledgeStar is very streamlined, very user-friendly,” says Ms. Reynolds. “I love that I can always run a report for anything we’re tracking, and if I ever need anything the response is so quick and responsive. We get the most for our money with PledgeStar. We have no complaints.”

Ms. Reynolds credits PledgeStar’s ease of use with the school’s success. “It’s so easy for families to set up their page,” she explains. “All they have to do is personalize it and send it to their friends and family. They can use social media, text message, and email. It’s just so easy. We still have parents who write checks, but that is also easy to account for with PledgeStar.”

Like many schools, the past couple years have been challenging, especially when it comes to fundraising. Village Christian learned that with a great platform, anything can be achieved. “Last year, with school being online, we had the least amount of students involved in the Read A Thon than in the past but raised the most money we ever have—just over $28,000 with only half of our students participating.”

Once the Read A Thon concluded, Village Christian had to decide how to allocate the funds. Ms. Reynolds explains how the PTF makes those decisions: “We meet with the school to find out what they need, then bring those requests to the PTF board. This year, we used some of the money to provide tuition assistance for families struggling with employment during the pandemic. We also purchased outside seating and shade structures for the campus so that some lessons could be taught outside with fresh air. We are also building a new lounge for teacher aides.”

Part of running a fundraiser is fielding questions from families. This can take up valuable time, especially when you are relying on a group of volunteers who have other work and familial commitments. PledgeStar’s platform strives to significantly reduce this. “I’ve never had a complaint about PledgeStar,” says Ms. Reynolds. “In the past when we’ve used other platforms, there’s always been problems and lots of questions. PledgeStar is so streamlined, and there’s not a lot of room for error. I’ve not had any hiccups. It’s so simple, and no ever has any complaints.”