Holiday Games That Give Back

‘Tis the season of giving, and what better way to celebrate the holidays than through festive events that raise money for people, pets, and the planet?

Whether you’re hosting an office party, a local community gathering, an event at your school, or looking for family activities, these fundraising games are fun and creative ways to give back.

Check out the Greater Good Charities Give Good Catalog for game and donation ideas for people, pets, and the planet.

Christmas Fundraising Games

Like a traditional white elephant gift exchange, this version features donations to charities.  

• Set a specific budget for the donations. 
• Each participant writes down their favorite charity on a card.
• Participants draw numbers to determine the order of gift selection.  
• The first person selects a card from the pile and announces the charity.  
• Subsequent participants can either choose a new card or steal one already chosen. 
• After all cards have been chosen, participants donate the pre-designated amount to the charity on their card.

2. Santa Hat Ring Toss
Set up Santa hats on poles of varying heights. Each participant pays a small fee based on how many rings they would like to toss. For example, $5 for five tosses and $10 for ten tosses. The participant tosses their rings onto the hats and chooses a charity based on how many rings they land.

3. Gift Wrapping Relay
Gather donated gifts for a local shelter or organization. Have participants form teams to race to wrap presents creatively. Either charge an entry fee or ask for donations for the wrapping supplies. The winning team (based on speed or creativity of wrapping) chooses the charity for the donations. Donate the wrapped gifts after the relay.

4. Holiday Bingo
Holiday bingo is a festive spin on the traditional game. Replace the numbers on the card with holiday-themed images. Charge a small fee for each bingo card and consider offering a discount for multiple bingo cards purchased. Donate the costs to the winner’s favorite charity.

5. Ugly Sweater Contest
Host an ugly sweater contest with a small entry fee for joining, which will be donated to the charity of the winner’s choice. Participants and spectators can vote for the ugliest sweater. 

6. Cookie Decorating Contest
Host a cookie decorating competition with an entry fee for joining. Judges or participants can make donations to taste and judge the cookies. The remaining cookies and entry fees can be donated to a local nursing home or community center.

7. Holiday Trivia Night
Host a holiday-themed trivia night with an entry fee for participating teams. Have the winning team choose where the entry fees are donated.


8. Christmas Carol Karaoke
Host a karaoke night featuring holiday songs. Either charge an entrance fee or request donations from participants and audience members. This event could be a great way to combine other events, like a silent auction, to increase the fundraising power for a designated non-profit simultaneously.

9. Stocking Surprise Game
Fill stockings with items or notes that describe a prize without saying exactly what it is. Participants either pay a set fee to pick a stocking, or it can be conducted as a silent auction with the stocking going to the highest bidder. The winner gets the secret prize described in the stocking and chooses the charity that receives the donations.


10. Gingerbread House Building Contest
This family-friendly fundraiser is a fan favorite. Charge and entry fee for teams or individuals, with judges or attendees voting on their favorite gingerbread house. Gingerbread houses and entry fees can be donated to a community center afterward or taken home by the teams as their prize.

11. Snowman Building Contest
This is a great kid-friendly fundraiser. Have teams or individuals pay an entry fee, with designated judges or spectators voting on the best snowman. Consider charging a small fee for the ability to vote more than once, with all money raised going to charity.  

12. Holiday Auction
This is a great way to involve local businesses by donating goods or services to holiday auctions. Hold either a silent or live auction with the proceeds going to charity.  

13. Holiday Scavenger Hunt
This adventurous team-building game will have participants hunting for holiday-themed items and clues.  

• Charge an entry fee for each team and encourage them to create a holiday-themed team name.
• Create a list of holiday-themed items or clues they must find within a designated area (for example, an office) or even throughout the community.  
• Set a time limit for the scavenger hunt, with the first team or individual that finishes winning the chance to pick the charity that receives the donations.
  

Teams pay an entry fee and compete to make the longest beard using cotton balls and petroleum jelly. This game is excellent for family or corporate events (provide ponchos so no one gets their clothes messy). The team with the longest beard chooses the charity to receive the donations.  

There are so many fun and creative ways to fundraise for your favorite charities this holiday season. So, gather your loved ones, colleagues, and neighbors, and let the season's joy extend beyond the festivities. Together, through these creative and heartwarming activities, we can create lasting memories while positively impacting the world.