How NEXT for AUTISM raised six figures in one night through Pledge

6 Figures
raised from ~400 donations
86%
donations completed via QR code on site

Overview

When NEXT for AUTISM brought its iconic Night of Too Many Stars comedy fundraiser to Los Angeles for the first time, the goal was simple: make every moment of generosity count. In partnership with Mattel Play It Forward and powered by Pledge, NEXT for AUTISM raised over six figures in a single evening through a giving experience as seamless as it was meaningful.

The Challenge

Live events create a rare window of collective generosity. The challenge is capturing it. Donors are present, moved, and ready to give, but a clunky checkout experience breaks the moment. NEXT for AUTISM needed a donation flow that could meet that energy: instant, intuitive, and built for the way people actually give. They also wanted to deepen donor investment by rewarding those who stepped up with $100 or more.

The Solution

Donation Form Text-To-Donate

Pledge built a custom donation form designed specifically for the NOTMS experience. Donors who gave $100 or more received a thank-you gift from Mattel Play It Forward — a meaningful way to celebrate generosity and keep donors connected to the cause. The form was mobile-first by design, with QR codes driving 86% of all donations and Apple Pay leading as the top payment method at 68% by volume. For in-person giving, PledgeTap terminals stepped up — three of the night's largest donations came through tap-to-give readers on the floor. Through Pledge's Free the Fee commitment, Pledge covered $1.6K+ in processing fees so NEXT for AUTISM could keep more of every dollar raised. Text-to-donate rounded out the experience, converting at 30% via a simple prompt: text NOTMS to 707070.

Pam Cohen, Chief Development Officer
CDO

“Working with Pledge was seamless from start to finish, and the event itself was a tremendous success. The platform's ease of use allowed our team to stay focused on what mattered most, rather than getting bogged down in logistics. The Pledge team was incredibly attentive in the lead-up to the event, ensuring every detail ran smoothly. We're looking forward to partnering with them again.”