What is a custom pledge?
A custom pledge is a membership amount that isn't tied to one of a creator's tiers. Some members pay a custom amount because they want to give more than their tier price; in other cases a member is paying a creator who doesn't have paid tiers set up. New members can't choose a custom amount when they join through a tier.
Existing members who want to change their pledge amount can do so from their active membership settings — see Editing your Membership.
What happens when a member has a custom pledge?
A member who joins with a custom pledge isn't assigned to a tier, so no rewards are attached. Likewise, a member who edits their pledge to an amount higher than their tier price isn't automatically moved into the nearest tier.
Why is $1 the minimum?
Some members want to pay a creator but the tier minimums are outside their budget. The "no tier" custom pledge lets them still take part even when they can't join a tier. As the name suggests, there are no benefits or tiers attached to a custom pledge, regardless of the amount given. $1 is the minimum so the pledge still covers processing fees.
Post access for custom pledge members
Custom pledge ("no reward") members only have access to posts you publish for Paid members only or All members.
For example, a member with a $2 custom pledge who isn't in a $2 tier won't have access to that tier's post content — only to posts published for Paid members only or All members.
If a member would like to move to the correct tier, share this guide: I'm locked out of posts I should see.
Note: If you'd like a post locked to members paying you outside of your tiers, publish it for Selected tiers so you can choose exactly which tiers get access.
How to find your "no reward" or custom pledge members
Members who pay you with a custom pledge aren't tied to a specific tier (if you've created tiers). They appear with the No tier status in your Relationship Manager, because their payment isn't connected to a tier's benefits. Since they aren't part of a tier, they aren't tracked for benefits and won't get tier-specific benefits like Discord roles.
How to filter no-reward pledges
Use your Relationship Manager filters to generate a list of your active no-reward members. Set these filters:
- Active membership type
- No reward
- Any time period you'd like
FAQ
- No — there's currently no way to increase, decrease, or remove the $1 minimum. It lets members take part even when they can't join a higher-priced tier or are fine without a reward.
-
No — creators can't move members into tiers, mainly because it can affect a member's billing.
If a member isn't in a tier and wants to be, share this guide: I'm locked out of posts I should see.