Newquay dog charity races to find £300 pledges by Friday

Right now, a promise costs nothing. For St Francis Dogs Home, that promise is worth double by December, but only if enough of them arrive before next Friday.

A £300 hurdle before the real fundraising begins

St Francis Dogs Home, the rescue near Newquay that takes in unwanted dogs and finds them permanent homes, needs to raise £300 in pledges before Friday 28 August at 5pm. Clearing that figure moves the charity through to Stage 2 of this year’s Big Give campaign, the step that opens the door to the bigger December fundraising push.

It is a small number compared with what comes after it, and that is rather the point. The charity is asking anyone who was already planning to give at the end of the year to make that intention count now, while it still can.

How a promise now turns into double the donation later

The scheme is called Promise now, donate later, and the mechanics are simpler than they sound. Supporters fill out a pledge form committing a minimum of £100 today. That promise gets doubled by trusts, foundations and philanthropists taking part in Big Give, effectively turning every pledge into twice its value for the charity, without anyone having to find the money straight away.

Nobody pays anything at the pledge stage. The actual donation is not due until after 8 December 2026, and St Francis Dogs Home says it will set up a reminder so pledgers do not have to keep the date in their head between now and then. The only deadline that matters immediately is the pledge itself, due by 5pm this Friday.

What a pledge keeps going

The charity is one of many small Cornish charities leaning on the same national campaign this December, and for St Francis Dogs Home the money keeps a specific job running. It funds the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of dogs across Cornwall, the work behind every dog that comes through its doors before it goes to a new family.

Anyone wanting more detail before committing can reach the fundraising team directly at [email protected]. The pledge window closes at 5pm on Friday, and Stage 2 depends on what lands before then.

📷Credit: St Francis Dogs Home