Is what I vowed considered a vow or a pledge if I asked Allah to fulfill something in exchange for donating a sum of money throughout my life, and does it carry the reward of charity?

If the phrasing you uttered implies commitment, such as "It is a duty upon me for Allah that I give charity" or "It is incumbent upon me to do such-and-such," then it is considered a valid form of vow (nadhr (definition)), whether you explicitly mentioned the word charity or not. However, if the phrasing does not imply commitment, such as "I will give charity," then it is merely a promise that does not obligate you to anything. In any case, if the vow was conditioned upon Allah's will (mashiyya) or if the full condition upon which it was made was not met, then nothing becomes obligatory from it. If it is established that what occurred was a valid, binding vow, then fulfilling it carries greater reward than a supererogatory charity.