Givebacks automatically provides built-in, legally compliant Official Rules for you to display on your Sweepstakes page:
The rules are customized during Campaign setup and contain the following information for donors' awareness:
Official end date and time
Drawing date (at least three business days after the entry deadline)
The approximate retail value of the prizes (see below for more details)
A detailed description of the prize(s) offered
Alternate (free) method of entry (see below for more details)
What should I review before publishing my Sweepstakes?
Think of the Official Rules as a contract between the sponsor (your organization) and the person purchasing entries for the drawing. Once a contract is signed, the terms of the agreement are final. As such, once the Sweepstakes is published and entries are purchased, the following changes cannot be made:
Adding or deleting prizes
Changing dates
Changing beneficiary organization
You should review the rules carefully to make sure your organization remains in compliance with the terms throughout your Campaign. Let us know if you would like the eligibility section edited. This will speed up the Sweepstakes approval process conducted by our approvals team, which happens after the Campaign is published.
When you reach out, please include your Campaign title or ID, as well as the exact text of any special terms (e.g., cash prize or early bird drawing) so we can add them to your Official Rules.
What eligibility requirements should I set for my Sweepstakes?
Who can enter your Sweepstakes is just as important as how they will enter. Therefore, sponsors (your organization) are required to disclose eligibility requirements and any other criteria that would make someone ineligible to enter or win.
The standard eligibility requirements you'll need to determine are based on age and location. The rules on your Sweepstakes page will be legally compliant for eligibility in the US and Canada. If you would like to limit the eligibility to only certain areas (ex. US only), please contact our customer success team, and they can edit the rules on your Sweepstakes.
If you are shipping the prize, you will also want to consider the cost of shipping in your eligibility selection. For example, if you opt for worldwide eligibility, you may need to ship the prize overseas, which can be costly.
How should I describe prizes in my Sweepstakes Official Rules?
Prize descriptions are part of the contract with your winners, so your objective should be to provide as much detailed information as possible. A thorough description of your prize(s) lets entrants know what they may win. Therefore, your description should include specifics of the prize, like the brand, size, color, or other relevant details.
If your prize includes a trip, please provide as much detail as possible about all aspects of the trip, such as:
Whether flights are included
Whether lodging and activities are included
What costs the winner will be responsible for
Making the prize description as detailed as possible will help to streamline the approval process.
What is the alternate method of entry requirement?
Your Sweepstakes Official Rules will also provide instructions on the alternate entry method (a free mail-in entry option), which is legally required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Sweepstakes Official Rules after going live?
Once your Sweepstakes is published and entries are purchased, you cannot change prizes, dates, or beneficiary organizations. The Official Rules act as a binding contract, so review them carefully before publishing to ensure compliance.
Do I need to include an alternate entry method?
Yes, providing a free mail-in entry option is legally required for Sweepstakes. Givebacks automatically includes instructions for this alternate entry method in your Official Rules to ensure legal compliance.
How do I determine eligibility requirements for my Sweepstakes?
Consider age restrictions, geographic location, and shipping costs when setting eligibility. Standard rules cover US and Canada, but you can contact Givebacks support to limit eligibility to specific areas if needed.
What details should I include in prize descriptions?
Provide thorough descriptions including brand, size, color, and other relevant details. For trips, specify whether flights, lodging, and activities are included, plus any costs the winner will be responsible for paying.
Why does my Sweepstakes need approval before launching?
Givebacks reviews your Sweepstakes to ensure legal compliance with Official Rules and regulations. Providing detailed prize descriptions and accurate information speeds up this approval process after you publish your Campaign.
Questions? Click the "?" icon to contact Givebacks Support.