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Pledges

Overview​

The Pledges module tracks members' giving commitments: building fund campaigns, mission support, a monthly tithe commitment. A pledge is a promise to give a set amount at a set rhythm, for example GHS 200 every month. Shepherd keeps a schedule of installments, shows how many are paid, and reminds the member on WhatsApp when one is due.

Go to Pledges in the sidebar. Pledges need the Growing plan or above.

Screenshot

📸 [Screenshot: Pledges page showing summary stats cards and pledge cards with progress bars]

Pledges are being redesigned

A redesign is under way: a pledge will become a total with a balance tied to a fund, every payment (cash, Collect, WhatsApp, payment link) will count towards it, and members will be able to pay an installment straight from the reminder. This page describes how pledges work today.

What Is a Pledge?​

A pledge has:

  • A member
  • A title, e.g. "Building Fund 2026"
  • An amount per installment, e.g. GHS 200, and a currency
  • A frequency: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly or Yearly
  • A start date
  • A number of installments, or ongoing with no end date
  • A status: Active, Paused, Completed or Cancelled

Shepherd creates the installment schedule from these (for example 12 monthly installments of GHS 200, a commitment of GHS 2,400) and marks each installment paid as payments come in.

Creating a Pledge​

  1. Go to Pledges and click New Pledge
  2. Fill in:
    • Member: search by name or phone
    • Pledge Title: e.g. Building Fund, Missions, Christmas Appeal
    • Amount per installment and Currency
    • Frequency
    • Start Date
    • Ongoing pledge (no end date): tick for a commitment with no fixed number of installments
  3. Save

Members can also create their own pledge on WhatsApp (see below).

Screenshot

📸 [Screenshot: New Pledge form with member search, amount, frequency, and start date fields]

Pledge Statuses​

StatusMeaning
🟢 ActiveOngoing; installments are expected and reminders are sent
🟡 PausedThe member paused it on WhatsApp; no reminders
🔵 CompletedEvery installment has been paid
⬜ CancelledCancelled before completion; its history is kept

The Pledges Page​

At the top:

StatWhat it shows
Active PledgesNumber of active pledges
Total PledgedCombined value of active pledges
FulfilledAmount paid against pledges, including completed ones
OutstandingPledged but not yet paid

Below, each pledge shows the member, title, amount and frequency, next due date, progress and status.

How Payments Count Towards a Pledge​

Installments are marked paid in two ways:

1. Automatically, from a WhatsApp gift. When a member's gift through WhatsApp GIVE or the WhatsApp payment link is confirmed by Paystack, Shepherd looks for an active pledge of that member whose installment amount matches the gift (within 1%) and marks the next unpaid installment paid. The member receives a WhatsApp progress message.

2. By staff, for cash. Click Record Cash Payment on the pledge. The next unpaid installment is marked paid and the member receives a WhatsApp progress message.

When the last installment is paid, the pledge is marked Completed and the member is congratulated.

Things to know
  • Record Cash Payment does not create a giving record. The installment is marked paid, but the money doesn't appear in Giving totals, receipts or statements. Record the cash under Giving → Record Offering as well.
  • Gifts are matched by amount only. A gift for a different fund with the same amount can be credited to a pledge, and a partial or larger payment isn't credited at all.
  • Gifts recorded by hand in Giving, or collected by staff under Giving → Collect, are not matched to pledges.

Automated Pledge Reminders​

Every morning Shepherd sends WhatsApp reminders for installments coming due:

FrequencyReminder sent
DailyOn the due date
Weekly / Monthly1 day before
Quarterly3 days before
Yearly7 days before

The reminder names the pledge, the amount and the due date, shows the member's progress, and tells them how to give (e.g. GIVE 200). If an installment is 3 days overdue, the member gets one gentle overdue nudge. Members can pause reminders with PLEDGE PAUSE.

Reminders appear in Messages → Sent Messages with the 💳 Pledge type.

Editing a Pledge​

  1. Find the pledge and click Edit
  2. Change the title, amount per installment, currency or internal notes
  3. Save

A new amount applies to the installments not yet paid. The frequency and start date can't be changed; cancel the pledge and create a new one instead.

Cancelling a Pledge​

  1. Find the pledge and click Cancel
  2. Confirm (Keep Pledge backs out)

Cancelled pledges are kept with their payment history.

Pledge Card (PDF)​

Each pledge has a printable pledge card (📄 Card) with the church, member, pledge details and progress, useful to hand to the member.

WhatsApp Pledge Commands (Members)​

Members on a Growing plan church can manage their own pledges:

PLEDGE 200 MONTHLY Building Fund   — Create a pledge of 200 a month
PLEDGE LIST                        — Active pledges, numbered, with progress
PLEDGE CANCEL 1                    — Cancel pledge 1 (asks to confirm)
PLEDGE PAUSE 1                     — Pause reminders for pledge 1
PLEDGE RESUME 1                    — Resume a paused pledge
PLEDGE                             — Show these commands

Frequencies: DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, YEARLY. A pledge created on WhatsApp gets a default number of installments (e.g. 12 for monthly).

Permissions​

PermissionAllows
giving.viewSee the Pledges page and pledge cards
giving.editCreate, edit and cancel pledges; record cash payments

Tips​

  • ✅ Create the pledge when the member commits at a service or campaign launch
  • ✅ Record cash in Giving too, so your giving totals and statements are complete
  • ✅ Ask members to give the installment amount exactly online, so it counts towards their pledge
  • ✅ Watch Outstanding to see how realistic your campaign target is