Have RallyUp automatically notify non-winner(s) or choose to not to notify them.
When you run a Raffle, Sweepstakes, or Auction through RallyUp, you can select how you’d prefer to notify non-winner(s):
- Automatically notify by email on a specified date and time
- Don’t notify them (can also be selected if you still want to contact non-winners, but don’t want to do so through email)
Campaigns default to automatic notification unless you choose not to notify the non-winners.
Important for Auction organizers: Auction non-winner notification emails use a standard template and cannot be customized; the customization options in this article apply only to Raffles and Sweepstakes. Also, be aware that for Raffles and Sweepstakes, the winner’s names are automatically included in non-winner emails by default. You can remove the winner’s names when customizing your email. For Auctions, the standard template does not include winner names and cannot be modified.
How do I set up non-winner notifications for my Campaign?
- Go to Account Navigation in the left menu and select Campaigns.
- If you have chosen a list view, click on the Campaign title. If you have selected a grid view, click on the Campaign image.
- Select Campaign Setup.
- Go to Raffle/Sweepstakes/Auction in the timeline at the top and select Show optional settings.
- Scroll down to How do you want to notify the donors who didn’t win? and select your preferred option.
- If you select automatic notification, enter the date and time:
Please note that the notification date and time should be scheduled on or after your Auction end date and time or Raffle/Sweepstakes drawing date and time.
- Select Save.
Can I customize the non-winner notification email message?
If you’ve chosen to have the system send non-winner notifications, you can customize the message content (only available for Raffles and Sweepstakes; Auction notifications can’t be customized):
- Go to Account Navigation in the left menu and select Campaigns.
- If you have chosen a list view, click on the Campaign title. If you have selected a grid view, click on the Campaign image.
- Select Campaign Setup.
- Go to Raffle/Sweepstakes/Auction in the timeline at the top and select Show optional settings.
- Scroll down to Customize the email that notifies people who did not win and customize the email head and body:
NOTE: The names of winners are automatically added to the non-winner email. If you don’t want to share the names of the winners, please delete this section in the customized email.
- Select Save.
Note: Auction non-winner notifications use the following standard template and cannot be customized:
What should I do if non-winner emails aren’t being delivered?
If you’ve configured automatic non-winner notifications but recipients aren’t receiving the expected email — or are receiving a generic “Thank you for your support!” message instead — work through the steps below to identify and resolve the issue.
How do I confirm my non-winner notification is configured correctly?
- Go to Account Navigation in the left menu and select Campaigns.
- If you have chosen a list view, click on the Campaign title. If you have chosen a grid view, click on the Campaign image.
- Select Campaign Setup.
- Go to Raffle/Sweepstakes/Auction in the timeline at the top and select Show optional settings.
- Scroll down to How do you want to notify the donors who didn’t win? and confirm that Automatic notification is selected and that the scheduled date and time are correct.
- Scroll down to Customize the email that notifies people who did not win and confirm that the subject line and message body are filled in as expected.
- Select Save.
If everything looks correct and delivery issues persist, proceed to the next section.
What should I check if non-winners received the wrong email?
If non-winners received a generic “Thank you for your support!” message instead of your configured non-winner notification, the non-winner email did not send. The generic message is the standard post-entry confirmation email, not the non-winner notification.
Instructions to confirm whether the non-winner notification was sent will differ depending on whether you’re using RallyUp or an email marketing integration to send emails:
If you’re using an email marketing integration:
- Log in to your email service provider account (such as SendGrid).
- Check send activity for the date and time your non-winner notification was scheduled to go out.
- Look for emails with a subject line matching the one you entered in your non-winner notification settings.
- If no matching send activity appears, the non-winner notification did not send.
If you’re using RallyUp:
- Go to Account Navigation in the left menu and select Donor Profiles.
- Use the search bar to search for your non-winner(s) by name (if you aren’t sure who your winners are, go to your Campaign Management Menu and select Manage Raffle/Sweepstakes/Auction Winners to view a list of all winners).
- Click on the non-winner’s name to open their Profile.
- Search for the non-winner notification in the Activity timeline. If the email is not listed in the timeline, the non-winner notification did not send. If the email is listed in the timeline but the non-winner cannot find it in their inbox, you can easily resend it by clicking on the three-dot menu and selecting Resend Email.
If you confirm that the notification did not send, contact RallyUp Support and include:
- Your Campaign name and ID
- The scheduled send date and time for the non-winner notification
- A description of the email non-winners received instead (for example, “Thank you for your support!”)
- A screenshot of your current non-winner notification settings
How do I run a test to verify non-winner notifications are working?
Before your next Campaign closes, you can verify delivery by running a small controlled test:
- Set up a test Campaign with automatic non-winner notifications enabled.
- Draw winners and confirm that the non-winner notification is scheduled to send.
- After the scheduled send time, follow the instructions in the section above to check for send activity.
- Confirm that the subject line and message content match your configured non-winner notification — not a generic post-entry confirmation email.
What else should I know about winner/non-winner notifications?
- All notification settings can be modified before the email(s) are sent.
- You can also choose how to notify winners: How-to: Notify Raffle, Sweepstakes, and Auction Winners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do non-winners automatically receive an email notification?
Yes, by default RallyUp automatically sends email notifications to non-winners on a date and time you specify. However, you can choose to disable automatic notifications if you prefer to contact non-winners through other methods or not at all.
Can I customize non-winner emails for Auctions?
No, non-winner notification emails can only be customized for Raffle and Sweepstakes Campaigns. Auction non-winner notifications use a standard template that cannot be modified.
Are winner names included in the non-winner notification email?
For Raffles and Sweepstakes, winner names are automatically included in the non-winner notification email by default. If you prefer not to share winner names publicly, you must manually delete this section when customizing the email message. For Auctions, the standard template does not include winner names and cannot be modified.
When should I schedule non-winner notifications to be sent?
Schedule non-winner notifications to go out after you’ve confirmed all winners and distributed prizes. Many organizations wait a few days after announcing winners to give time for winner confirmation before notifying non-winners.
Can I change notification settings after my Campaign has started?
Yes, all notification settings can be modified anytime before the scheduled emails are sent. You can adjust the date, time, or message content, or switch between automatic and manual notification options.
Why am I getting an error about notification dates when I try to publish my Auction?
This error appears when one or both of your notification times are scheduled before your Auction’s end time. Because winners and non-winners can only be determined once bidding closes, RallyUp requires both winner and non-winner notification emails to be set on or after the Auction end date and time. You will not be able to publish your Campaign until both notification times meet this requirement.
How do I fix the “notification dates must be on or after the bidding end date” error?
In Campaign Setup, go to Auction in the timeline at the top and select Show optional settings. Scroll to the winner and non-winner notification settings and update both dates and times to fall on or after your Auction’s end time. Select Save and try publishing your Campaign again.
Do both my winner and non-winner notification times need to be after the Auction end time?
Yes — both the winner notification time and the non-winner notification time must be set on or after your Auction end date and time. This applies even when both notifications are scheduled for the same day as the Auction ends: if either time falls before the Auction end time, the error will appear and block publishing.
Why did non-winners receive a generic “Thank you for your support!” email instead of the non-winner notification?
The “Thank you for your support!” message is the standard post-entry confirmation email, not the non-winner notification. If non-winners received this message instead of your configured notification, the scheduled non-winner email did not send. Log in to your email service provider account or look up the non-winner’s Donor Profile and check for send activity on the scheduled notification date. If no activity appears, contact RallyUp Support with your Campaign name, ID, and the scheduled send date and time.
Non-winner emails aren’t showing up in my email service provider account — what should I check?
First, confirm that automatic non-winner notifications are still enabled in your Campaign settings and that the scheduled send date and time have not passed without a send. If the settings look correct and no send activity appears in your email service provider account, contact RallyUp Support with your Campaign name, ID, and the date and time the notification was expected to send.
Can I resend non-winner notifications if they didn’t deliver the first time?
If your scheduled non-winner notifications did not send, contact RallyUp Support. The team can investigate delivery logs and work with you to reach affected participants.