A Fun Run pledge sheet is a one-page form a student carries to family and neighbors to record who is supporting them and for how much. Use the flat-donation sheet when donors give a set amount and pay when they sign, and the per-lap sheet when they pledge per lap and pay after the event. Both are free to download and print.
Paper sheets are one piece of the event. For the full plan, see how a Fun Run fundraiser works.
What's on each sheet
| Sheet | Top of the page | Donor columns | Bottom of the page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat-donation | Student name, teacher/class, return-by date | Donor name, phone or email, amount, paid (cash / check) | Sheet total, cash total, check total, parent signature |
| Per-lap | Student name, teacher/class, event date, return-by date | Donor name, phone or email, amount per lap, optional maximum, laps completed, total due, paid | Laps completed (filled in after the event), sheet total, parent signature |
Both sheets include a line for the student's online page link, so relatives who live far away can give online instead.
Flat-donation or per-lap: which sheet to use
Most schools lead with flat donations. The money comes in before the event and nobody has to do math afterward.
Per-lap pledges add suspense, because kids know every lap counts. The catch is a second round of collection after event day. Suggest donors set a maximum so a strong runner doesn't surprise anyone. The flat vs. per-lap pledge guide covers the tradeoffs in detail.
Collecting and reconciling
- Set one return date. Print it on the sheet and in every parent message. For per-lap sheets, set it about a week after the event.
- Collect in a sealed envelope. Sheet and money go together, with the student's name and class on the outside.
- Count in pairs. Two volunteers open each envelope, count it, and initial the sheet total.
- Log it the same day. Record each envelope by student and class in one master list, then deposit.
- Chase gaps once. For per-lap pledges, send families the laps completed and the amount due, with one follow-up reminder.
Cash and check basics
- Ask for checks made out to your PTA or PTO, never to an individual.
- Keep cash locked up and deposit it the day it comes in.
- The Financial Planner on your lead team owns counting, deposits and the master list.
- Log each check number with the student it belongs to, so a returned check can be traced.
The digital alternative
Paper reaches the neighbor next door; an online page reaches the grandparent three states away. With FundHub, every student gets a page a parent can set up in about 5 minutes from a phone. Donors pay by card, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay or Google Wallet, and totals update on their own.
You don't have to choose. Paper and online can run together, and cash and checks are tracked in FundHub next to online gifts, so one report shows every student's full total. For collecting online, see the Fun Run donations guide.
Running a different event? Walk-a-Thon organizers can use the Walk-a-Thon pledge sheet, and Jog-a-Thon organizers the Jog-a-Thon pledge sheets.
Less paper, fewer envelopes to count
A free 15-minute FundHub demo shows how student pages, sharing and cash/check tracking work together. No obligation, no contracts.
Frequently asked questions
What should a Fun Run pledge sheet include?
At minimum: the student's name and class, a return-by date, and a row for each donor with name, contact, amount and whether they paid by cash or check. A per-lap sheet also needs amount per lap, laps completed and total due. Add the student's online page link for donors who prefer to give online.
When should pledge sheets be turned in?
Flat-donation sheets are usually due by event day, with the money in the envelope. Per-lap sheets can't be finished until laps are counted, so set a return date about a week after the event and send each family the laps completed. Put the date on the sheet itself and repeat it in every reminder.
Can we use paper pledge sheets and online pages at the same time?
Yes. Many schools send a sheet home for neighbors and local family and use online pages for everyone else. In FundHub, cash and checks are tracked alongside online gifts, so each student's total and your class and school meters include both.