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Pledges

Overview​

The Pledges module lets you track member giving commitments — capital campaigns, ministry support, personal tithe pledges, and more. A pledge is a promise to give a specific amount over a period of time. Shepherd tracks how much has been paid against each pledge and sends automated WhatsApp reminders when payments are due.

Go to Pledges in the sidebar.

Screenshot

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

What Is a Pledge?​

A pledge is a giving commitment with:

  • A title — e.g. "Building Fund Pledge", "Monthly Tithe Commitment"
  • A total amount — the full amount committed (e.g. GHS 2,400)
  • A frequency — how often payments are made (Daily / Weekly / Monthly / Quarterly / Yearly)
  • A start date
  • A status — Active, Paused, Completed, or Cancelled

Shepherd automatically calculates how much has been paid vs. the total commitment and shows a progress bar.

Creating a Pledge​

  1. Go to Pledges → click + New Pledge
  2. Fill in:
    • Member — search for the member making the pledge
    • Title — e.g. "Building Fund Pledge 2026"
    • Total Amount — the full amount committed
    • Currency — defaults to your church currency
    • Frequency — Daily / Weekly / Monthly / Quarterly / Yearly
    • Start Date — when the pledge begins
    • Notes — optional context (e.g. "Committed during the Building Fund launch service")
  3. Click Save

The pledge is created with 0% progress. Payments are recorded as the member gives.

Screenshot

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

Pledge Statuses​

StatusMeaning
🟢 ActivePledge is ongoing — payments are expected
🟡 PausedTemporarily paused — no reminders sent
🔵 CompletedFull amount has been paid
⬜ CancelledPledge was cancelled before completion

Recording a Payment​

When a member makes a payment towards their pledge:

  1. Find the pledge in the Pledges list
  2. Click Record Payment
  3. Enter: Amount, Payment Method, Date
  4. Click Save

The pledge progress bar updates immediately. If the total amount reaches 100%, the pledge is automatically marked Completed.

Tracking Pledge Progress​

Each pledge card shows:

  • Member name
  • Pledge title and total amount
  • Progress bar — GHS paid / GHS total (e.g. GHS 800 / GHS 2,400)
  • Percentage complete — e.g. 33%
  • Frequency and next due date
  • Status badge

Pledge Summary Stats​

At the top of the Pledges page:

  • Total Active Pledges — number of ongoing pledges
  • Total Pledged — combined value of all active pledges
  • Total Collected — total paid against pledges so far
  • Completion Rate — percentage of pledged amount collected

WhatsApp Pledge Commands (Members)​

Members can create and track their own pledges via WhatsApp:

PLEDGE 200 MONTHLY Building Fund  — Create a monthly pledge of GHS 200
PLEDGE STATUS                     — View active pledges and progress
PLEDGE HISTORY                    — View past/completed pledges

Example pledge status reply:

🤝 Your Pledges

Building Fund
Monthly • GHS 200
Progress: GHS 800 / GHS 2,400 (33%)
Next: 1 Apr 2026

[████░░░░░░] 33%

Automated Pledge Reminders​

Shepherd automatically sends WhatsApp reminders to members when their next pledge payment is due. These reminders:

  • Are sent the day before the due date
  • Include the pledge title, amount due, and a giving link
  • Appear in Messages → Sent Messages under the 💳 Pledge Reminder type

Editing a Pledge​

  1. Find the pledge → click Edit (pencil icon)
  2. Update title, total amount, or notes
  3. Click Save

Frequency and start date cannot be changed after creation. Cancel and recreate the pledge if needed.

Cancelling a Pledge​

  1. Find the pledge → click Cancel
  2. Confirm

Cancelled pledges are kept in your records with all payment history intact.

Permissions​

ActionRequired Role
View pledgesStaff, Pastor, Admin, Super Admin
Create & edit pledgesAdmin, Super Admin
Record pledge paymentsAdmin, Super Admin
Cancel pledgesAdmin, Super Admin

Tips​

  • ✅ Create pledges during campaigns — when a member commits at a service, log it immediately
  • ✅ Use the Notes field — record which service or event prompted the pledge
  • ✅ Review the Completion Rate regularly — it tells you how realistic your campaign target is
  • ✅ Automated reminders reduce staff workload — members are nudged automatically so your team doesn't have to follow up manually