How to Set Up Pledging for Items for Sale

This article outlines how attendees can pledge to purchase items during your event without having to immediately complete the checkout process.

Fundraising events move fast—and not every guest will be signed in or have a credit card on file when they’re ready to bid or buy. The Pledging feature helps you keep those moments frictionless.

It allows attendees to commit to buy items without having to go through the entire checkout process. Instead of losing the sale, attendees can reserve an item and pay later. It’s designed to support real-world scenarios where check-in doesn’t catch everyone, but you still want every guest to participate and give.

How the Item Pledge Experience Works

When an attendee goes to purchase an item for sale during your event:

• Signed-in attendees with a saved card will see a One-Click Buy button to purchase instantly—no checkout needed.

• For others (not signed in or no saved card), they’ll be asked to Buy Now, Pay Later by entering their name and email. This creates an item pledge that is held in their cart to pay later.

Setting Up Pledging for Items for Sale

• In your Fundraiser Builder, set up your Items for Sale.

• Go to your Fundraiser Settings, select Item Pledging, and toggle it on.

• Publish your fundraiser and visit the Items page on your live fundraiser.

• During your event, attendees who click Buy Now will be prompted based on their sign-in and payment status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a Pledge to an attendee’s cart from the Check-In Tool?

Yes! In the Check-In Tool, find the attendee and click Manage Cart. From there, select Item Buy Now. If the attendee has no saved card, it will be recorded as a Buy Now, Pay Later pledge.

Can an attendee remove a pledged item from their cart?

An attendee cannot remove pledged items from their own cart. However, an event organizer or volunteer can remove pledged items via the Check-In Tool in the Event and Sales Manager, or via the Pledge Manager in the Dashboard.

If an attendee has a Buy Now, Pay Later item in their cart, can they buy other items without it?

All items in the cart must be purchased together.

However, if the attendee signs in and adds a payment method after making a pledge, they will be prompted to One-Click-Buy when they next visit the Items for Sale page. One-Click-Buy bypasses the cart and purchases only that specific item.

Can a donor pledge to pay for any other fundraising drivers on Trellis?

Pledging is available for items for sale and donations. Donation pledging is only available if you are using our Fund-a-Need feature, and only in the same conditions above (signed out donors, or donors without a card saved).