Pledges
Total
Each donor owes (per-lap amount × laps), limited to their cap if they set one, plus any flat gift. Example rows are placeholders. Replace them with real pledges.
How per-lap pledges work
With a per-lap pledge, the donor commits an amount for every lap the walker completes, and the bill is settled after the event. Three versions are common:
| Type | Formula | Example (15 laps) |
|---|---|---|
| Per lap | per-lap × laps | $1 × 15 = $15 |
| Per lap with cap | lower of (per-lap × laps) or cap | $3 × 15 = $45 → capped at $40 |
| Flat | fixed amount | $25, regardless of laps |
Caps matter more than they look. A donor who would hesitate at an open-ended “$2 a lap” will often agree to “$3 a lap, up to $40”, and many end up paying the cap. If you use per-lap pledges, put a cap column on your pledge sheet or form. More on this in the pledges and pledge sheets guide.
Laps to miles: reference table
| Laps | 400 m track (lane 1) | 1/4-mile loop |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0.99 mi | 1.00 mi |
| 8 | 1.99 mi | 2.00 mi |
| 12 | 2.98 mi | 3.00 mi |
| 16 | 3.98 mi | 4.00 mi |
| 20 | 4.97 mi | 5.00 mi |
| 24 | 5.97 mi | 6.00 mi |
| 30 | 7.46 mi | 7.50 mi |
| 40 | 9.94 mi | 10.00 mi |
Outer lanes of a running track are longer than lane 1, and a lap of a field or playground is often shorter than people guess, so measure your loop once. Lap counts feed straight into per-lap pledge totals.
Collecting per-lap pledges after the walk
- Within two days: enter every walker's final lap count.
- Within three or four days: send each per-lap donor their total and a payment link.
- One week after: send one friendly reminder to anyone unpaid.
- Two weeks after: close collection and report the final total.
Ready-to-send wording for the totals message is in the letter and message templates.
Method note: Track conversions use 1 mile = 1,609.344 meters and a 400-meter lane-1 lap. The session estimate is your walking time × the pace you enter, so it's only as good as the pace assumption. Time a trial lap to check it.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate a per-lap pledge?
Multiply the pledge per lap by the number of laps walked. A $1.50 per-lap pledge for a walker who completes 12 laps is $18. If the donor set a cap, they pay whichever is lower, the lap total or the cap. Add any flat gift on top.
How many laps of a track is a mile?
On a standard 400-meter track, about 4.02 laps of the inside lane is one mile, so four laps is roughly a mile. On a quarter-mile loop it is exactly four laps. For any other loop, divide 1,609 meters (or 5,280 feet) by the loop length.
What is a reasonable per-lap pledge amount?
It depends on how many laps walkers will complete. Work out the likely lap range first (session length and loop size), then choose a per-lap amount that lands where you are comfortable, and set a cap. Many donors find a capped pledge easier to agree to.
Should our walk-a-thon use per-lap pledges at all?
Per-lap pledges add excitement but have to be collected after the event, and some go unpaid. Many organizers lead with flat donations and offer per-lap pledging as an option for close family.