Creating your first campaign
Pick dates, set goals, and shape the read-a-thon before you launch.
A campaign is one read-a-thon. Pick the dates, set a goal if you'd like one, and you've got the shape of your event. Creating it is the first thing you'll do after signing in — once it exists, your dashboard turns into a checklist that walks you through everything else (Square, students, teachers, take-home sheets, rewards). You can run as many campaigns over the years as you want — fall, spring, every term — just not two at the same time.
Before you start
Just have a rough idea of your start and end dates. Once the campaign starts, those dates are locked in, so it's worth checking with whoever's running the read-a-thon before you commit. Everything else can be filled in later.
The form
Name. This shows up everywhere families and donors look — receipts, donation pages, your dashboard. Something friendly like "Spring Read-a-thon 2026" works much better than "Q2 Fundraiser."
Start and end dates. Students can read and log minutes between these dates. The dates lock once the campaign starts, so pick carefully. (If you absolutely need to change them later, email hello@pagepledge.com and we'll help.)
Goals. Optional, and you can change them any time before the campaign ends. A fundraising goal and a reading-minute goal both show up as progress bars across the school — they give students something to chase. We'll also email you at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of goal so you can celebrate.
Donations open two weeks early
Families can start sharing their child's donation page two weeks before the read-a-thon officially begins — gives grandparents and aunts plenty of time to chip in. Reading minutes still don't count until the start date.
Pick a goal that feels like a stretch
A goal that's just out of reach is more exciting than one you'll blow past in a week. Aim for something you'd be proud to hit but aren't sure you will. (You can always raise more than your goal — the bar isn't a cap.)
What happens next
Once you save, your dashboard turns into a setup checklist — Square, students, teachers, take-home sheets, rewards, launch. Tick everything off in order and you're ready to go. On your start date, the campaign goes live on its own — there's no button to push. Reading minutes start counting, and an email goes out to everyone so they know it's begun.
What's next
- Connect Square — the next thing the checklist will ask for.
- The four stages of a campaign.