Try These 6 Fundraiser Games to Increase Donations at Your Next Event

If you’re looking for ways to increase your event’s profits, fundraiser games—when chosen carefully and executed properly—can accomplish just that. They routinely provide an impressive source of supplemental income for a variety of auction events. Plus, they’re just plain fun. Adding fundraiser games can add a light-hearted element to your event.

But which fundraiser games are out there, and which one is right for your next event? The many options can make the decision difficult. In this blog, we share what to consider before choosing a game.

Why to Consider Fundraiser Games for Your Events

Adding fundraiser games to your live auction events can have several benefits, including:

• Increased Engagement: Games can capture donors' attention and keep them engaged throughout the event. This interactive element encourages participation and makes the event more lively and enjoyable.
• Higher Revenue: Fundraiser games often involve entry fees, raffles, or prize purchases, creating additional revenue streams. Donors may be more willing to spend money on games than simply giving money, as they receive entertainment or the chance to win a prize in return.
• More Social Interaction: Games encourage socializing and teamwork among donors. This can help build a sense of community and connection to the cause, making guests more likely to support the organization in the future.
• Memorable Experience: A fun and engaging event can leave a lasting impression on donors. Memorable experiences increase the likelihood of guests returning for future events and recommending them to others.

Which Game is Right for Your Event?

Choosing a fundraiser game for your event is a big choice. After all, you want to make sure it successfully engages your donors. You should start by considering the demographics and interests of your donors to ensure the game appeals to them and encourages participation. Next, assess your space and resources available at the event venue, especially since some fundraiser games require more space or specific equipment. The game should also align with the overall theme or mission of your event, enhancing the experience and reinforcing your message. Additionally, evaluate the potential costs and revenue associated with each game, ensuring it fits within your budget while maximizing fundraising opportunities. Finally, consider the level of complexity and staffing required to run the game, as simpler games may be easier to manage and more accessible to a broader audience.

#1. Live Auction Steal

Overview: The live auction steal is a fun, profitable fundraiser game that creates elements of mystery and competition at your event. It can help you maximize profits for your event by providing two ways to earn money: from the raffle and from the live auction. 

How it works: Guests purchase raffle tickets during the weeks prior to your event. The winner of the raffle gets to choose one of the live auction items as their prize. Typically, tickets are priced at $100 each. You can limit the number of tickets sold to 100, which means you should make $10,000 from this raffle. 

Be sure to publicize the live auction items when selling the tickets so the raffle buyers are enticed to buy tickets and can plan to steal their favorite package. If all the raffle tickets are not sold out before your event, choose outgoing volunteers to sell the tickets before the live auction as your guests arrive. 

The key to maximizing the profits of this live auction game is to offer auction items that can be sold more than once, resulting in no lost revenue. If you have donated items, you can ask the donor if the item can be sold more than once if their item is chosen. If they cannot donate the item again, ask them what they would want to be paid for the item and decide if it makes sense.

To add luxury travel and experience packages to your live event lineup, include no-risk auction packages. These items can be sold multiple times. The best part? Your organization has nothing to lose because it doesn’t pay for the package unless it sells at the fundraiser. Even though the live auction package is “stolen” by the raffle winner, the package can still be sold again in the live auction.

#2. Heads or Tails

Overview: Heads or tails is another popular fundraiser game. It helps get the attention of your guests before the live auction, and it can raise several thousand dollars as well. 

How it works: Guests purchase a token, necklace or light-up bracelet during the cocktail hour for $25. Once guests are seated, the auctioneer announces that it is time to play the game, and asks those who want to play to stand up. 

Consider offering donors one last chance to buy in before playing. To do this, ask those who want to play to hold up their bid paddle. Your auctioneer calls out the numbers in the room while a team member writes down the numbers. This allows people to quickly jump into the game. (You will need to enter the bid numbers into your auction management software to charge your guests for their purchases.)

Before the game starts, the auctioneer explains the rules and encourages guests to play. The last person standing wins the prize.

#3. Dead or Alive

Overview: Dead or alive is a live auction game similar to heads or tails. Guests purchase a chance to participate in this game at the beginning of the event. They are given paddles or cards that are green on one side and red on the other side. 

How it works: The auctioneer asks participants to stand, and they display images of Hollywood actors on the screen. They ask guests to hold up the red side of the paddle if they think the actor is dead or the green side if they think the actor is alive. If they guess correctly, they stay in the game. The guests who answer incorrectly sit down. The last person standing wins the game. This is an especially fun game for a Hollywood-themed event. 

#4. Last Hero Standing

Overview: The last hero standing fundraiser game is a way to get more donations after the giving moment. 

How it works: When everyone has given, and the auctioneer gets down to the lowest donation level, they tell guests that they’re looking for the last hero of the night. The auctioneer encourages guests to donate to win a prize, asking: “Who wants to be the last person to donate $100?” Guests raise their paddles to donate this amount. The last person to donate wins a prize, such as two roundtrip airline tickets or a $1,000 gift card. 

Sometimes, to get the game to end, the auctioneer will need to increase the donation amount to $250 or higher. Everyone who raises their bid paddle will donate. Only the last person to donate wins the prize.

#5. Theatrical Dessert Live Auction Item

Overview: Do you want to get your donors’ attention during the live auction? Try setting a dessert on fire on stage! Flamboyant desserts prepared by a popular chef during your live auction will increase bidding and garner extra income for your organization. 

How it works: Invite a chef to your event to show off their latest creation on stage such as Spanish coffee, bananas foster, or flaming baked Alaska and turn it into a theatrical dessert live auction package. Consider having your live auction during dinner and serve the dessert after money is raised.

It is best to do this live on stage, but you can also show a brief video of the chef preparing the dessert if they cannot be there in person. Add some dramatic background music while the chef is preparing the dessert or while the video is playing to generate excitement. 

After the dessert is made, the auctioneer starts the bidding. The highest bidder wins the delectable dessert for all the guests at their table to enjoy immediately. Other guests receive a different, more standard (but still delicious!) dessert.

#6. Paddle Sweep 

Overview: Use the paddle sweep live auction game to quickly generate extra donations at the end of your live auction. Not only is it a great way to end the event, but it also makes sure everyone gets a chance to donate to your cause. 

How it works: After the live auction and giving moments are over, the auctioneer announces that a final prize is available for last-minute donations. The auctioneer encourages all the guests to give their bid paddle to a volunteer walking around the room and tells them they will each be donating $100 for a chance to win a prize. The paddles are placed in a large basket and given to the auctioneer. The auctioneer draws a winner. Common prizes are a weekend stay at a resort, a $1,000 gift card, or a flight voucher. Each bid number is charged $100.

Need Help with Fundraiser Games? Turn to ClickBid.

We’ve shared a few ideas to jumpstart your creativity—but there are lots of other fundraiser games and strategies to choose from. The experts at Murad Auctions share some additional game ideas on their blog, and the ClickBid team put together a Fundraising Recipe Book with plenty of clever strategies to help you raise more.

If your organization needs advice on live auction games for your upcoming events, the ClickBid team is happy to help. Plus, our crazy simple event fundraising software can support all your event needs. Get in touch with ClickBid for easier planning and a smooth event day.