Library › Data AI › Nonprofit staff

Calculate a sponsor's Giving Day match from a gift log

Practice: Giving the right context. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

A sponsor matches each gift dollar for dollar up to $500 per gift, but only gifts made Dec 2 between 8 am and 8 pm count. Write exactly 6 numbered lines, one per gift, each as Donor: $gift → match $X (with the reason if $0), then one unnumbered last line: Match total: $X. Plain text, under 90 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Not giving the match rules. The AI matches every gift in full, like the board member says. Try: Add: "Match up to $500 per gift, only 8 am-8 pm."
  • Not asking to see the work. The sponsor will want each match listed. Try: Add a line to copy: "2. Tran family: $1,000 → match $500"
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each line: "each line under 12 words."
  • Forgetting where it goes. AI loves markdown tables and bold, which show up as clutter in a sponsor report. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold, headings or tables."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Gives the per-gift cap
  • Gives the time window
  • Asks to show the math
  • Sets a word limit
  • Asks for plain text

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises