When promoting your charity sweepstakes through print advertisement, television, radio, direct mail, or on the Internet, you’ll want to follow all legal requirements to ensure both you and your donors are protected. Many types of promotions require that you add abbreviated rules and disclosures that supporters can review before entering your sweepstakes. We’ve included some of those requirements below for you to review as you prepare your promotional strategy. 

Standard Print Advertisements

When promoting your charity sweepstakes in standard print advertisements, you’ll want to make sure to include the following details which are required by law:

• A few text lines clarify there is NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. 
• Eligibility requirements, such as age and location. You should also include the text “Void where prohibited,” along with eligibility requirements. 
• The official dates/times of the sweepstakes. This should include a start date, end date, and drawing date. Make sure to include the sponsor’s time zone so that there is no confusion on the times posted.
• A link to the official rules so that participants can find more details, including methods of entry, prize descriptions, and odds of winning.
• The sponsor’s name and address.

Online Advertisements

When promoting your charity sweepstakes using online advertisements on websites and banner ads, you’ll need to include abbreviated rules that include the details below.

• NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
• Abbreviated eligibility requirements (example: Legal residents of the 50 United States 18 years and older).
• End date and drawing date.
• A link to the official rules.
• A “Void where prohibited” notice.

Social Media Channels

When planning your charity sweepstakes promotion on social networks, you’ll want to make sure to follow the guidelines posted by each social network regarding the promotion of giveaways. 

Most social networks will require that you include the following disclaimer within your post: “The experience hosted by [your company name] is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with [Social Media Platform].”