Preparing for your first payout — a checklist

Your Pledgix Go or Pledgix One campaign can collect donations from day one — but the first disbursement to your bank has a few prerequisites. Work through this checklist early and your first payout will go out the moment it's allowed to.

The checklist

1. Upload your compliance documents

In your campaign's Payouts & Transactions tab, upload your verification documents — a government ID is the core requirement for most campaigns; medical or community letters and a utility bill help if they fit your campaign's story. Files can be PDF or common image formats, up to 20 MB each.

You can do this the day you create the campaign — don't wait until you want the money.

2. Your review starts automatically

Your first upload automatically moves your campaign into review — there's no separate step, and the Pledgix team reviews submissions promptly. If the status becomes Action Required, check the campaign chat (the chat icon in your campaign header) — it explains exactly what's needed, and uploading the requested document puts you straight back in the review queue.

3. Get approved

When your status reaches Approved, two things happen at once:

• Payout features unlock in your portal.
• Your payout hold period starts counting — 90 days by default. Your approval email states the exact date your hold ends.

See Compliance status transitions — what each one means for your money for the full status map.

4. Add a payout method

Choose where your money should go — bank transfer, check (delivered by email as a password-protected PDF), or eCheck (Zelle, PayPal, or Venmo). Add it in the Payouts & Transactions tab; the method you save becomes your active one.

Tip: The payout method section unlocks the moment you're approved — add your method right away, so the hold period is the only thing left between you and your first disbursement.

5. Let the team verify your method

Before significant funds are sent, the Pledgix team verifies your payout details with you directly (for example, confirming your bank account). Once verified, the method shows a verified indicator — and for your security it can no longer be deleted from the portal without contacting support. A verified check method also unlocks self-issued payout checks — you can generate a check yourself, confirmed with a one-time email code and subject to per-check and daily limits.

6. Wait out the hold period

After approval, disbursements begin once your hold period ends. There's nothing to do here — but double-check that the bank account you added is still current. A payout sent to a closed account comes back as Returned and has to be reissued.

When the first payout arrives

Once everything above is true, the Pledgix team issues payouts from your available balance — there's no minimum amount you need to reach first. You'll get an email titled "A Payout Has Been Scheduled", and the payout appears in your Payout History with a number like PO-0001, its net amount, and a live status — the email confirms the amount and the method it's headed to, and you'll get another email when the status changes. From there, The payout lifecycle — from donation to delivered covers each stage.

Keep in mind that a portion of your funds may remain in reserve for a while even after payouts begin — that's normal, temporary, and fully itemized on each payout. See Reserves — the percentage explained, with examples.

Quick reference

| Step | Where | When to do it | |---|---|---| | Upload documents | Payouts & Transactions tab | At campaign creation | | Review starts | Automatic | On your first upload | | Add payout method | Same tab | As soon as you're approved | | Method verification | Handled with the Pledgix team | Before the first significant payout | | Hold period ends | Date in your approval email | Automatic |

Tip: Stuck on any step? The campaign chat (the chat icon in your campaign header) is the fastest channel — you'll get an email whenever the team replies.