Fundraising
Is the Match Still On? The Urgent Fix for Matching Gift Questions on Giving Tuesday
Your Giving Tuesday matching gift is the hook in every email and post. Then the questions start. Is the match still on, and how much is left? Does my employer match too, and how would I even check? If a donor can't find the answer in a few seconds, they hesitate, and a hesitant donor often doesn't come back.
The fix is simple. Give your website chatbot a short, curated note about the match, update it a few times through December 1, and add a starter question so donors can tap it. Every donor gets a current, accurate answer and your approved donation link, any hour of the day.
Why matching gift questions stall donations
A match tells donors their gift counts twice. Nobody wants to give at 9 p.m. thinking their gift doubled, only to learn the match ran out at noon.
So donors ask before they give. On Giving Tuesday, the same few questions arrive all day while your team is busy posting updates. Email replies come hours later, long after the moment has passed.
Our series opener on answering every donor question on Giving Tuesday covers the full list. This one zooms in on the match.
The matching gift questions donors ask
Expect these, in roughly this order, as the day goes on:
- Is the match still on right now?
- How much of the match is left?
- Who is the matching donor, and is it a real dollar-for-dollar match?
- Does my employer match my gift, and how do I ask them?
- If the match runs out, does my gift still help?
Each one has a short, honest answer. Write them down before the day starts.
How to keep matching gift answers current all day
The Wow Bot answers only from your website and the curated context you add in your account. That makes the match easy to manage. You write one context entry, then edit it as the total changes.
Here's a simple plan for December 1:
- Before launch: Write the match entry. Include the matching donor's name (if they've agreed), the cap, the end time and your approved donation link.
- Morning: Confirm the entry says the match is open and how much remains.
- Midday and late afternoon: Update the amount left. A rough figure is fine, such as "about half the match remains."
- When the match fills: Change the entry right away. Thank donors for filling it. Then explain that every gift still counts.
- End of day: Add a final note so late visitors and next-day visitors get the right story.
Assign one person to own those edits, with reminders in their calendar.
Employer matching: answer it once
Every company runs its own matching program. Your bot can't know someone's employer policy, and it shouldn't guess.
Give it a plain answer to share: many employers match gifts, donors should check with their HR team, and here's the receipt or confirmation they'll need. If your organization has a page about employer matching, approve that link so the bot can share it. For anything more complicated, the Talk to a person button sends the conversation to your team by email.
Starter question and banner wording that work
Starter questions let donors tap instead of type. Set one for the day: "Is the match still on?" Donors see it the moment the chat opens.
Pair it with a banner on your donation page that points to the same answer. A few wording ideas:
- "Your gift is being matched today. Ask our chat how much is left."
- "Wondering if your employer matches gifts? Ask our chat."
- "The match is complete. Thank you! Every gift still counts today."
The chat carries the detail, so your banner never goes stale. For more ideas on getting the page ready, listen to the ultimate Giving Tuesday playbook on the Non-Profit Digital Success Podcast, and read Wow Digital's guide on creating a donation page that converts.
Want this set up for you? Let Wow Setup build your match answers before December 1.
What happens if the match answer is wrong
An outdated match answer does real damage. A donor gives because the bot says the match is open, then sees your post saying it filled hours ago. That feels like a bait and switch. We dig into this risk in why charity chatbots make things up.
Get it right and donors get a fresh answer in seconds and give with confidence. When the match fills, they hear a warm thank you.
Get your match answers ready now
December 1 leaves plenty of time to write your match entry and test it. Our page on getting ready for Giving Tuesday has the full checklist. Plans start at $29 USD a month. Start your 7-day free trial and test your match answers this week.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell donors if our Giving Tuesday match is still open?
Write a short note about the match in your chatbot's curated context, including the cap and end time. Update it a few times on the day with the amount left. Add a starter question like "Is the match still on?" so donors can tap it, and use a banner on your donation page that points them to the chat for the latest total.
What should we say when the matching gift runs out?
Update your answer right away. Thank donors for filling the match and say clearly that it's complete. Every gift still makes a difference today, so tell them that too. Swap your donation page banner to match. Donors respect a quick, honest update far more than finding out later from a social post that the match ended hours ago.
Can a chatbot tell donors whether their employer matches gifts?
It can't know any one company's policy, and it shouldn't guess. Give it a plain answer instead: many employers match gifts, donors should check with their HR team, and they'll need their tax receipt or confirmation. If you have a page about employer matching, approve that link so the bot can share it.
Who should update the match total on Giving Tuesday?
Pick one person to own the match updates for the whole day. Set calendar reminders for morning, midday, late afternoon and the moment the match fills. One owner avoids two people editing at once and keeps the answer consistent, while the rest of the team focuses on posts and thank-you emails.
Will the chatbot make up a match amount?
The Wow Bot answers only from your website and the curated context you add. If your context says about half the match remains, that's what donors hear. If the answer isn't in your content, it says so and can offer the Talk to a person option, so your team follows up by email.