This holiday season, Save the Children is set to debut its first-ever gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, a live‑streamed event titled Save Point. The concept emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the organization’s connection with the worldwide gaming community, a sector that has shown remarkable enthusiasm for charitable causes. Fiona Baxter, the charity’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that Save Point was "born from a wider desire to engage more with the gaming community." She emphasized that the event offers a new avenue for supporters to contribute, especially those who might find traditional fundraising challenges—like marathon runs—out of reach. "Save Point is allowing us to engage more with the gaming community, both from a partnership and individual supporter perspective.
Not everyone can run a marathon, so an event like this is a lot more accessible and allows us to showcase what a different type of supporter can do," Baxter explained. The charity has teamed up with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped raise over £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year.
This partnership illustrates the growing synergy between nonprofits and digital influencers, who can mobilize large audiences in real time. Baxter noted that the organization hopes to nurture these relationships long after the event concludes, turning one‑off collaborations into lasting alliances. "It would be incredible to reach more people in this community with information about the work we do and why it's important," she said. "I will consider it a huge success if we walk away from this event with a new crew of supporters who might want to game for us again because of their experience with us." The ambition is not merely to raise a single sum of money but to build a sustainable network of gamers and streamers who understand and champion the charity’s mission.
Because Save Point is a pioneering effort for Save the Children, the team anticipates a steep learning curve. "There are also a lot of learning opportunities in this event. This is our first time doing this type of fundraiser, so the feedback we get will be invaluable and help us shape bigger and better gaming events year‑on‑year," Baxter added.
This iterative approach mirrors how many tech‑savvy organizations refine their strategies based on community input, ensuring each successive campaign is more engaging and effective. Baxter praised gamers and streamers as "unsung heroes of fundraising," highlighting how the gaming world is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support.
She described the community as one that cherishes stories, imagination, and the escapism that comes from immersive play. By channeling that passion into tangible aid, the sector demonstrates its capacity to drive meaningful change beyond the screen.
"There is an understanding between game‑lovers that we are a group of people who love stories, imagination and escaping to new worlds through the power of play. By turning our love of gaming into a force for real‑world, lasting change, we're demonstrating just how powerful and impactful the gaming community can be," Baxter remarked. Save Point forms part of the larger "The One Delivery That Matters" campaign, which launches in November 2026.
The campaign seeks to shift public focus from traditional holiday gifts to essential supplies that children in crisis need most. While many children anticipate toys and treats, millions are instead awaiting critical deliveries—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter—that can mean the difference between life and death. "Absolutely anything you could think of can be delivered right to your door at the tap of a screen," Baxter noted. "But for millions of children this Christmas, it’s not toys or treats they’re waiting for – it's the deliveries that will save lives and protect childhoods." This messaging underscores the stark reality that, for vulnerable families, the holiday season is defined by survival rather than celebration.
The Save Point event is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. Participants can sign up through a dedicated registration portal, where they will receive guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, tips for engaging audiences, and resources to maximize donation potential. The platform will support a variety of gaming formats—from competitive tournaments to casual playthroughs—allowing creators of all skill levels to contribute. In addition to direct donations, the event aims to raise awareness about the broader issues affecting children worldwide.
By leveraging the storytelling nature of games, streamers can weave narratives about the challenges faced by children in conflict zones, areas hit by natural disasters, and communities suffering from extreme poverty. This narrative approach helps viewers connect emotionally, turning passive spectators into active donors.
The charity also plans to incorporate interactive elements, such as donation milestones that unlock in‑game rewards, viewer polls that decide challenges for the streamer, and real‑time updates on how funds are being allocated. These features are designed to keep audiences engaged and provide transparency, reinforcing trust between donors and the organization. Looking ahead, Save the Children hopes that Save Point will become an annual fixture, growing in scale and impact each year.
By establishing a reliable pipeline of gaming‑centric fundraising, the charity can diversify its revenue streams, reduce reliance on traditional events, and tap into a demographic that is increasingly influential in the digital age. Ultimately, Save Point is more than a single fundraiser; it is a strategic experiment that blends philanthropy with the dynamic, community‑driven world of online gaming. If successful, it could set a precedent for other nonprofits, illustrating how virtual play spaces can be harnessed to address real‑world problems, deliver essential aid, and protect the futures of children across the globe.