I have an idea to increase EA donation matches on Facebook's Giving Tuesday, and I want your feedback! PLEASE FILL OUT THIS GOOGLE FORM and leave a comment after reading this.

I am considering creating and distributing an automated tool that can schedule and execute donations immediately when matching begins, even if the donor is asleep or AFK. Last year, about 50% of the $1.2m+ donated by EA's was matched. With this tool, this percentage could easily approach 100% (increasing match funds to EA causes by $500k+) since the main reasons people didn't get matched were 1. people couldn't click buttons within the 13 seconds it took for matches to be met, and 2. people didn't want to get up as early as 5 AM in parts of USA. People would likely be more willing to donate since the odds of getting matched are higher, and they don't have to incur the cost of waking up early or of practicing for the match.

However, I (and others I have spoken to) are worried this tool might have some negative outcomes that could outweigh the benefits, such as:

1. it could garner negative press for EA or the orgs that the tool's users donated to by displaying unfair practices since no one else is using automation.

2. It might violate facebook's terms, stating "You may not access or collect data from our Products using automated means", although I wouldn't consider this "accessing" or "collecting" data. There's also no statement FB's GT policies mentioning automation.

3. might not get matched by FB if the automation were detected

4. Non-EA's might find or recreate the tool and now we're no better off

5. Facebook might change GT rules or shut down GT if automation enters the game

I am considering the following options (for you to vote on in the form):

1. SCALE IT: Distribute the automation to EA community to use on 2020's Giving Tuesday at full scale
2. TEST IT: Only distribute it to a select number of people in 2020 in order to see if the tool works, if we get any backlash from FB or from the public, etc. Pending test results, we may then decide whether or not to SCALE IT in 2021
3. KILL IT: Do not distribute an automation at all.

In addition to voting on this, please let me know in the form what your thoughts are regarding the arguments for/against, if you have any new arguments/information that'd be relevant, and if you have any advice for how to best create and distribute the tool or message me if you want to help in this process (assuming we decide not to KILL IT!). The form answers will be open to all viewers in the form.

YOUR FEEDBACK IS VITAL AND WILL BE LISTENED TO. PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT.