Why we built PagePledge
After years of using other fundraising platforms at our school, we kept coming back to the same frustrations. We’d seen platform fees take 20% of what a school raised. When families and friends donate to support students, that’s a lot of money to lose before the school can put it to use.
Running the fundraiser was hard work, too. The administration took time from volunteers and school staff who already had plenty to do. We loved what a read-a-thon could do for our school: get children excited about books, encourage a reading habit, and raise money for the things they need. We wanted organising one to be easier and less expensive.
Rebecca is head of the parent council at an Edmonton Public school, and Jordan is a software developer. Between us, we had experience with the work involved and the skills to build something that could help. So we decided to make an app for our kids’ elementary school.
Making it available to other schools
That project became PagePledge. We built it to take some of the administrative work out of a read-a-thon and help our school keep more of the money it raised. We chose a flat campaign fee so schools know the cost upfront, and raising more doesn’t mean paying us more.
Now we want to offer it to other school communities facing the same challenges. Our hope is that a simpler, more affordable fundraiser leaves volunteers and staff with more time, schools with more funding, and students with more encouragement to keep reading.