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CHARITABLE PLEDGESPledges to charities forspecific projects areenforceable when theproject begins. Why doesthe law enforce charitablepledges, even whena specific project is notinvolved?Charitable PledgesCharitable organizations and nonprofit institutions often dependupon contributions. This dependency has led the court to enforce charitablepledges just as if they were contracts. If a specific project isinvolved with a pledge, the charity must carry out its side of the deal bycompleting the project. In such a situation, the pledges would be consideredunilateral agreements.Example 3. Father Olaf Laubacher, pastor of St. Carmela’sCatholic Church, announced that the parish was beginning a campaignto raise funds for an addition to the church’s parking lot.Parishioners at St. Carmela’s pledged more than $12,000. Relyingon these pledges, St. Carmela’s began work on the parking lot.Each pledge became an enforceable agreement at that point, nomatter how small.Some charities use pledges for their general operation and maintenance,not for a specific project.Problems With ConsiderationWhen parties disagree about the amount of money that the debtorowes the creditor, a problem has arisen over the consideration involvedin the contract. The resolution of this kind of problem depends uponwhether the transaction involves a genuine dispute as to the amount ofmoney owed.Chapter 8: Consideration 169