Drive Sports vs 99 Pledges
Need more than just pledge-style fundraising?
99 Pledges is great for one-off a-thon events, but Drive Sports gives you a complete year-round fundraising platform with more features, lower ACH fees, and versatile campaign options.
Save more with bank transfers
Direct donations, recurring, and more
Built-in text communication
The Real Value Comparison
Let's do the math. Here's what happens to a $10,000 fundraiser using ACH payments.
With 99 Pledges
With Drive Sports
More Than Just Pledge Campaigns
99 Pledges excels at a-thon events. But what about the rest of your fundraising needs?
Direct Donations
Accept one-time donations any time, not just during pledge events.
Recurring Donations
Build sustainable revenue with monthly giving programs.
SMS Messaging
Reach parents and donors instantly with text updates.
Team Management
Manage rosters, participants, and multiple teams easily.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
See exactly what you get with each platform.
| Feature | Drive Sports | 99 Pledges |
|---|---|---|
|
Platform Fee
Cost to use the platform
|
$29-99/mo |
$0
Tip-sustained
|
|
Credit Card Processing
Card payment fees
|
3.5% + $0.25 | 3.49% + $0.49 |
|
ACH/Bank Payments
Lower-fee bank transfer option
|
1.5% + $0.25 | Not Available |
|
Campaign Types
Fundraising flexibility
|
All Types | Pledges Only |
|
Recurring Donations
Monthly giving from supporters
|
Built-in | Not Available |
|
SMS Text Messaging
Send texts to participants & donors
|
500/mo included | Not Available |
|
Year-Round Platform
Beyond single-event campaigns
|
Always On | Event-Based |
|
Professional Branding
Custom colors, logos, domains
|
Full Customization | Basic |
|
Cash/Check Entry
Record offline donations
|
Yes | Yes (No Fees) |
|
Team/Participant Management
Roster and role management
|
Advanced | Yes |
Choosing the Right Platform
Both platforms have their strengths. Here's how to decide.
99 Pledges may be right if:
- You only run one pledge-based event per year
- You don't need SMS or recurring donations
- All your donors pay by credit card
- You have a walk-a-thon, read-a-thon, or similar event
Drive Sports is better if:
- You want year-round fundraising capability
- You need SMS messaging to reach parents
- You want to accept recurring monthly donations
- Your donors prefer ACH for lower fees
- You run multiple fundraisers throughout the season
- You want professional branding and customization
Frequently Asked Questions
99 Pledges has no platform fee, but you still pay 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction on card payments. Drive Sports offers ACH payments at just 1.5%, which can save you more on larger donations. Plus, you get SMS messaging, recurring donations, and year-round functionality that 99 Pledges doesn't offer.
If you truly only need one pledge event per year with no other fundraising, 99 Pledges can work well. But most teams discover they want to accept donations year-round, send text updates to parents, or set up recurring giving—features Drive Sports provides that 99 Pledges doesn't.
Absolutely! Drive Sports supports all types of fundraising campaigns, including pledge-based events like walk-a-thons and read-a-thons. You get the same participant fundraising pages, plus the flexibility to run direct donation campaigns, recurring giving programs, and more.
ACH payments on Drive Sports cost just 1.5% + $0.25, compared to 3.49% + $0.49 for credit cards on 99 Pledges. On a $100 donation, that's $1.75 vs $3.98—a savings of $2.23 per donation. For a team raising $10,000 with ACH, that adds up to over $200 in savings.
Text messages have a 98% open rate compared to 20% for email. With Drive Sports' built-in SMS (500 messages/month included), you can send donation reminders, thank-you messages, and campaign updates that actually get read. This directly translates to higher fundraising totals.
Yes! You can start using Drive Sports for your next campaign immediately. We can help import your existing participant and donor data, and our MVP Setup service gets you running in 24-48 hours. You keep your 99 Pledges history for reference while building your year-round fundraising on Drive Sports.
Ready for Year-Round Fundraising?
Go beyond single pledge events. Get SMS messaging, recurring donations, lower ACH fees, and a complete fundraising platform.