6 Tips to Host a Memorable Trivia Night or Game Night Fundraiser

Game and trivia nights put the fun in fundraising. Even better, this fundraising idea is effective year-round. With the right timing and location, you can easily bring supporters together to display their skills or knowledge while fostering community. 

However, turning that fun into funds doesn’t depend on the roll of the dice. Discover our top six tips for hosting a budget-friendly trivia or game night fundraiser and achieving your goals! 

Plan early and plan well

Don’t wait until the last minute to cover all the behind-the-scenes logistics needed for attendees to enjoy the evening (and for you to make a profit).

Learning how to run a trivia night fundraiser means checking off these steps well ahead of time:

• Set a fundraising goal
• Make a fundraising budget and capture all direct and indirect costs
• Promote it with a documented marketing plan
• Clearly communicate deadlines and responsibilities

Choose the right location 

Where will you gather? Even if you have your own facility, you may want to consider other locations depending on who you’re trying to attract. Common options include: 

• Church, school, or community center
• Brewery, distillery, or winery that allows outside food
• VFW or American Legion center
• Game stores or facilities with dedicated gaming spaces to use or rent
• Coffeehouse or restaurant with a separate group space

You’ll want to weigh multiple variables, including: 

• Ability to profit from food and beverage sales
• Target audience (and whether it includes children)
• Factors such as convenience, parking, accessibility, and restrooms

Identify money-making opportunities 

How can you ensure you rake in more than Monopoly money? Combine multiple approaches, such as: 

• Pre-event ticket sales
• At-the-door admissions
• Cash donation jars on tables
• Organization product sales, such as t-shirts
• Concessions
• Raffles

Be sure to check out local regulations before you choose a ticketing process. A fee to play trivia or other games can fall under gambling laws depending on whether your jurisdiction defines the activity as a "game of skill" or a "game of chance" or has other fee-based entry requirements. 

Boost snack sales 

Concessions can potentially cover a large slice of your profit goals, so invest time and thought into maximizing their sale during the evening. Think about: 

• Timing game rounds with concession breaks
• Providing table service with volunteer servers
• Having the host promote what’s available throughout the evening
• Providing menu cards at tables

As to what’s on the menu, consider: 

• Snacks that are easy to eat during gameplay
• A mix of familiar packaged items and homemade offerings
• By-the-cup beverage pricing
• Enough variety to cover carnivore, vegan, and gluten- and dairy-free diets

Design your gameplay

Curating the evening’s games is nearly as much fun as playing them, but remember to keep your goals in mind. Think about who your audience is and what resources you can engage. 

For trivia, consider: 

• Questions customized to organizational mission or activities, local culture, landmarks, etc.
• Buying a package with a scoring system, audio/video clips, tie-breaker questions, etc.
• Audience breadth of knowledge and question difficulty level

For a game night, look into: 

• A specific game for everyone or different games at each table
• Euro games focus (i.e., Settlers of Catan vs. Monopoly)
• Game teaching/leading skills among volunteers, local game designers, or companies
• Attention spans, learning curves, and strategic skills

Gaming can also be based on competition—trivia tends to lean toward teams (which can easily include multiple generations), while board games can range from individuals and teams to cooperative play. 

Choose fun prizes over big prizes 

Prizes can be a big part of game night and trivia night fundraising ideas, but you don’t have to spend big to make them appealing. Consider: 

• A ball cap with your organization’s name and "Trivia Master" or "The Winner" embroidered on it
• Practical gift cards from RaiseRight for gas, groceries, or popular retailers like Target or Amazon
• Donated prizes from local businesses in return for sponsor recognition

Here’s another idea from a successful trivia game organizer on Reddit: Source one or more prizes from thrift stores, choosing weird or novelty items. The prize matters less than the satisfaction of the win, and funny prizes are a good draw. 

Win and earn big with RaiseRight 

In addition to hosting a game night or trivia night fundraiser (whether it’s annually, quarterly, or a one-time thing), add RaiseRight to your fundraising strategy to ensure your organization earns year-round.

It’s easy and effortless—supporters can fundraise for your organization simply by paying with gift cards or shopping online at their favorite stores. With every purchase, your organization earns up to 20% back! 

With hundreds of brands to choose from, RaiseRight has something for everyone, no matter their shopping habits, preferences, or lifestyle. Best of all, your supporters can participate in RaiseRight without spending a dime out of pocket, as the earnings come directly from the brands.