Pledge Over Time FAQ

What is Pledge Over Time?

Pledge Over Time is a flexible payment option that allows backers to split their pledge into 3 payments, making it easier for them to support your campaign. By reducing the upfront cost, Pledge Over Time can help to attract more backers and encourage pledges to higher tiers by making premium rewards more accessible.

There are no additional fees, third-party signups, or interest-bearing loans—just a seamless way to offer backers more flexibility while keeping the pledge process simple and accessible.

You can find the answers to common Pledge Over Time questions from backers here.

How does Pledge Over Time work?

Pledge Over Time allows backers to split their pledge into 3 equal payments. The first charge will occur when your project ends successfully. The remaining 2 payments are then collected automatically each month until the pledge total is fully paid.

The first collected payment will be paid out in a separate payout, close to the time that your project’s first payout initiates. The funds from the next 2 payments will then be combined and sent to you as a lump sum payout, approximately 12 weeks after your campaign ends.

How do I enable Pledge Over Time for my campaign?

You can choose to enable Pledge Over Time for your campaign on the Basics tab of the project editor, before you launch your campaign. If enabled, backers who pledge the minimum amount, or higher, in your project’s currency, will be able to select to split the payment for their pledge.

What is the benefit of Pledge Over Time and how will it work for my backers?

Pledge Over Time can reduce the cost barrier to pledging and attract backers who prefer payment flexibility. By allowing backers to split payments on premium rewards this could potentially raise your average pledge amount. There are no additional fees for using Pledge Over Time and no 3rd party signups or interest-bearing loans.

For projects with Pledge Over Time enabled, after a backer has selected their reward and proceeded to the checkout page, they will see the option to “Pledge in full” or “Pledge Over Time”. If they select “Pledge in full” the total amount of their pledge will be collected when the campaign ends successfully.

For backers who select “Pledge Over Time” they will be shown a payment schedule, what is due at the successful completion of your campaign, and what they will be charged over the next 2 collected payments. Backers can view the status of their Pledge Over Time pledge at any time by viewing the pledge summary for your project on their Backed projects page.

What’s the criteria for a pledge to be eligible for Pledge Over Time?

Backers can access Pledge Over Time if their pledge total is the minimum amount, or higher, that is required for your project’s currency. If their total pledge value is below the minimum, and the campaign is enrolled in Pledge Over Time, the option to “Pledge Over Time” can not be selected. The backer will be shown a tooltip letting them know that Pledge Over Time is only available for pledges above a specified amount.

Below you can see which currencies we currently support for Pledge Over Time, along with the minimal pledge amount required to use this payment option.

How can I see which backers have selected Pledge Over Time?

On your backer report page, you’ll be able to select ‘Pledge Over Time’ under either the ‘All backers’ or ‘Payment Option’ drop-down (your backer report version will depend on whether you’re using the Kickstarter Pledge Manager).

How will I be paid? 

The first collected Pledge Over Time payment will be paid out in a separate payout, close to the time that your project’s first payout initiates 14 days beyond the end of your campaign.

The funds from the next 2 payments will then be combined and sent to you as a lump sum payout, approximately 12 weeks after your campaign ends. 

What happens if a backer’s payment fails for one of the payments?

If a payment fails, Kickstarter will notify the backer that they need to fix their payment within 7 days for charge 1, and 14 days for charges 2 and 3. If the backer is not able to fix a payment in time their pledge will be dropped and any payments collected may be considered bonus support. The refund of any successfully collected charges will be at each creator’s discretion.

How do I issue a refund for Pledge Over Time?

If you wish to issue a refund for a backer who selected to pay using Pledge Over Time, you can do so via your backer report. A refund can be issued at any point after your campaign has ended successfully.

For backers who still have upcoming charges for their pledge, you can choose to offer a full or partial refund. To issue a full refund and cancel any scheduled payments you will simply proceed with issuing a full refund.

If you plan to issue a partial refund, the amount you refund will determine if any scheduled charges are also canceled. We’ve outlined some scenarios below to help:

• To issue a partial refund before all charges are collected and cancel any scheduled payments, you will need to add the amount that is yet to be collected to how much you plan to refund from what has been paid so far.
  • For example: If $100 of a $150 pledge has been collected, and you plan to withhold $10, you will enter $140 as the amount to refund. This ensures that the final $50 charge is canceled and $90 is returned to the backer.
• To issue a partial refund before all charges are collected without canceling any scheduled payments, you will enter the amount you wish to refund and, provided it is less than the upcoming charges, these will not be canceled.
  • For example: If $100 of a $150 pledge has been collected, and you plan to refund $35, you will enter $35 as the amount to refund. This will then adjust the next scheduled payment to $15 to reflect the refund.

If you encounter any problems with issuing a refund to one of your Pledge Over Time backers, please contact our Support team.