Definition

Noun: A person who volunteers to record, typically by telephone, the financial contributions that individuals promise to give during an organized fundraising campaign.

Usage

This term is specifically used in the context of organized fundraising efforts, such as telethons or pledge drives, often for public broadcasting, charities, or other non-profit organizations. The "pledge taker" is responsible for answering calls from donors, writing down or entering into a system the amount of money pledged and the donor's information.

Examples

• During the annual public radio fundraiser, hundreds of pledge takers answered phones to record listener donations.
• She volunteered as a pledge taker for the charity telethon, carefully noting each caller's pledge amount and contact details.
• The station manager thanked the pledge takers for their crucial role in the successful fund drive.

Advanced Usage

• The role of a pledge taker is often temporary and event-specific, centered around a concentrated fundraising period.
• In modern contexts, pledge takers may use digital systems to log pledges directly into a database instead of paper forms.

Variants and Related Words

• Pledge drive (n): The organized fundraising campaign itself.
• Pledge (n/v): The promise to contribute money; to make such a promise.
• Volunteer (n): A person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.

Synonyms

• Donation recorder
• Pledge volunteer
• Fund drive volunteer

Antonyms

• Pledge maker / Donor (The person making the pledge, not recording it.)

Notes

"Pledge taker" is a compound noun. Its meaning is highly specific to the volunteer role within fundraising logistics and is not commonly used in general contexts.

Noun

1. a volunteer who records (usually by telephone) contributions pledged in a fund drive