A free, print-ready pledge sheet for jog-a-thons, fun runs and walk-a-thons: twelve sponsor rows supporting both flat donations and per-lap pledges, an expected-laps field so sponsors can estimate what they are committing to, payment instructions and a paid checkbox for collection tracking. No email address is required; download the file and print it.
Download the Pledge Sheet (PDF)
Why the Sheet Is Laid Out This Way
Each field on the sheet has a job. The flat-or-per-lap columns capture both kinds of sponsor: flat gifts are the majority at most events, and per-lap pledges average higher, so offer both. The expected laps line tells sponsors roughly what they are committing to, which prevents disputes when the totals go home. The rain plan line keeps pledges in place through a postponement. The paid checkbox turns the same sheet into your collection tracker after the event. The reasoning behind each choice is covered in the full pledge tracking guide.
Setting the Suggested Tiers
The sheet suggests $0.25 / $0.50 / $1 / $2 per lap. Suggested tiers raise the average pledge because sponsors choose from a short list instead of inventing a number, and nobody has to be asked for more. Pair the tiers with your published lap expectation: if most third graders run 10–18 laps, a $0.50 sponsor knows they are committing roughly $5–$9. Sponsors who knew that range in advance rarely question their post-event total.
Before You Send It Home
- Fill the event date, rain plan, collection deadline and payable-to lines.
- Write in the expected lap range per grade (see typical ranges in the jog-a-thon guide).
- Attach a short cover letter: the goal, what the money buys, and the event theme.
- Send the sheets three weeks before the event. Shorter drives collect less, and longer ones tend to lose momentum.
After the Event: Calculating Amounts Due
Each sheet becomes an invoice: laps × per-lap rate for each sponsor, plus any flat gifts. Send the totals home within 48 hours, allow a two-week collection window and send one reminder on day seven. Done by hand for 400 students, that calculation takes a large block of volunteer time, and it cannot start until the lap counts are settled. Student Lap Tracker settles that half on event day with scanned, exact lap counts, so a sheet like this one can be totaled the same afternoon. The school keeps all funds and all donor contact.
Pledge Sheet FAQ
Q: What should we fill in before printing the pledge sheet?
A: Three fields need filling in before you print: the expected lap range for each grade, so per-lap sponsors can estimate their commitment; the collection deadline; and who checks are payable to. Print grade-specific batches if your expected lap ranges differ a lot between kindergarten and fifth grade, since a kindergarten sponsor pledging $1/lap is committing to a smaller total than a 5th-grade sponsor at the same rate.
Q: How many sponsors should a student aim for?
A: Three to five sponsors per student is a realistic target. It adds up across a school, and families can reach it without pressuring anyone. Event totals depend mostly on the percentage of students who return at least one pledge, so set class participation goals rather than individual dollar leaderboards.
Q: Should the pledge sheet include online payment options?
A: Yes, if your school already has an online giving channel. Add the link or QR code to the payment-instructions line. Keep the paper sheet either way: grandparents and neighbors still pledge on paper, and the sheet is also your record of per-lap rates for the post-event math.
Q: How do we calculate what each sponsor owes after the event?
A: Multiply the student's official lap count by each sponsor's per-lap rate, then add flat donations, and send the computed amounts home within 48 hours. Done by hand across hundreds of students, this step takes a committee several evenings, and most of that time goes into settling the lap counts first. Schools that scan start with exact totals on event day, so the sheet math is the only step left.
Exact Lap Counts on Event Day
Every student’s official lap count, ready as soon as the running stops, so your pledge sheets can be totaled the same day.