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Manage your Pledge Manager soft-close date
Learn what a soft-close does, how to set or manage the date, and what happens when the pledge manager closes.
In this section
- Quick overview
- What is a pledge manager soft-close?
- When to use a soft-close
- How to set or change the date manually
- Dashboard reminders for a manual date
- How automatic soft-close works
- What happens on the soft-close date?
- Soft-close vs permanent close
- FAQ
Quick overview
Here are the key things to know about a pledge manager soft-close:
- A soft-close stops new pledges and stops backers from changing orders or shipping addresses.
- You can set the close date yourself, or Indiegogo can schedule one automatically after inactivity.
- You can change or clear the date any time before the soft-close happens.
- A soft-close is not permanent. You can reopen the pledge manager later in Project settings.
What is a pledge manager soft-close?
A Pledge Manager is the stage where backers confirm and manage their orders after the campaign. A soft-close gives you a controlled way to end that stage.
When the pledge manager is soft-closed, backers can no longer:
- make a new pledge
- add products to an existing order
- edit an existing pledge
- change their shipping address
Unlike a permanent close, a soft-close can be reversed. You can reopen the pledge manager later in Project settings.
When to use a soft-close
Use a soft-close when you want a clear end date but may still need the option to reopen later.
Common reasons to use it:
- You are ready to stop new late pledges.
- You want to lock orders before production or shipping.
- You no longer want backers to change items or shipping details.
- You want backers to see a clear deadline.
How to set, change, or clear the date manually
Follow these steps to set, change, or clear the scheduled end date for your pledge manager.
- Go to Project settings.
- In General settings, find Pledge Manager scheduled end.
- Enter the date and time when you want the pledge manager to close.
- Save your changes.
Important information
- Setting the date is optional.
- You can’t set a date in the past.
- You can change the date as often as you need before the soft-close happens.
- You can clear the date before the soft-close happens.
- The same date also appears in Timeline, but you can’t edit it there.
- Once you schedule an end date, backers can see it.
Dashboard reminders for a manual date
When the scheduled date is 14 days away or less, Indiegogo shows a reminder on the project dashboard. If you move the date farther away, the reminder disappears and returns later when the date is close again.
Image 1. Automatic soft-close timeline
This table explains the periods shown in the timeline above.
Table 1. Periods in the automatic soft-close timeline
| Period | What it means |
|---|---|
| Inactivity period | If there is no activity for 6 weeks, Indiegogo schedules a soft-close automatically and notifies the creator. |
| Soft-close notice period | The soft-close date is scheduled. Any new activity removes the automatic soft-close date. |
| Reopen period | After the soft-close, backers can no longer place new pledges or make changes, but the creator can still reopen the pledge manager. |
| Hard-close notice period | If the pledge manager stays closed, Indiegogo sends a notice before the final close. |
Note: At the end of the soft-close notice period, the pledge manager soft-closes. At the end of the hard-close notice period, the project reaches hard close and can't be reopened.
How automatic soft-close works
Indiegogo can also schedule a soft-close automatically after a period of inactivity.
For this feature, activity means:
- a new order
- an edit to an existing order
- a shipping address update
If none of that happens within 6 weeks, Indiegogo can schedule a soft-close 14 days in advance.
When that happens:
- you see a reminder on the project dashboard
- you receive an email notification
- you can keep the date, move it, or clear it
- if you already set a manual date, Indiegogo doesn't overwrite it
- if new activity happens before the close date, the automatic date is removed
What happens on the soft-close date?
When the soft-close date arrives, the pledge manager closes to backers.
- No new pledges are accepted.
- Backers can’t add products to existing orders.
- Backers can’t edit their pledge.
- Backers can’t change shipping details.
After the close, your dashboard shows that the pledge manager is closed. You can reopen it later in Project settings.
Soft-close vs permanent close
This table shows how a soft-close differs from a permanent close.
| Feature | Soft-close | Permanent close |
|---|---|---|
| Can backers place new pledges? | No | No |
| Can backers change orders? | No | No |
| Can you reopen the pledge manager? | Yes | No |
If your project stays closed and inactive for much longer, you may receive separate notices about a permanent close.
FAQ
Can I set the date in the past?
No. The scheduled end must be in the future.
Can I remove the date completely?
Yes. You can clear the scheduled end date until the soft-close happens.
Does Indiegogo replace a date I set myself?
No. If you set the date manually, the automatic inactivity flow doesn't overwrite it.
What counts as activity?
A new order, an edit to an existing order, or a shipping address update.
Can I reopen the pledge manager after a soft-close?
Yes. You can reopen it in Project settings. When you do that, the automatic close date is cleared. If no new backer activity happens after reopening, Indiegogo may schedule another automatic soft-close.