This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraising campaign, aptly named Save Point. The initiative blends video‑game play, live streaming, and charitable giving into a single, accessible event that aims to draw in a new segment of supporters.
Fiona Baxter, the organization’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for Save Point emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the charity’s connection with the gaming community. "We wanted a way to reach gamers not just as donors but as partners in our mission," Baxter said.
"Traditional fundraisers like marathons are fantastic, but they aren’t feasible for everyone. A gaming‑centric event lowers the barrier to entry and showcases how a different kind of supporter can make a real impact." To give the event a strong foothold, Save the Children has teamed up with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who earlier this year helped raise more than £5,000 for the charity through his own channels. Baxter emphasized that the partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to cultivate relationships with gamers, influencers, and their audiences beyond the two‑day window of Save Point. "If we can introduce more people in the gaming world to the work we do and why it matters, that would be a massive win," she explained.
"I’ll consider the event a success if we walk away with a fresh crew of supporters who want to keep gaming for our cause after their first experience." Because this is Save the charity’s maiden venture into a gaming‑driven fundraiser, Baxter also highlighted the learning potential. "The feedback we gather will be priceless. It will help us refine the format and scale up future gaming events, making them bigger and more effective each year," she added.
Baxter praised gamers and streamers as the "unsung heroes of fundraising," noting that the gaming arena is beginning to set a new, inventive standard for charitable support. She described the community as one that values narrative, imagination, and escapism, and suggested that channeling those passions toward tangible, real‑world change demonstrates the sector’s considerable influence.
"Gamers love stories and the chance to explore new worlds through play. When we turn that enthusiasm into a vehicle for lasting, positive change, we prove just how powerful the gaming community can be," Baxter said. Save Point is a central component of Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," which launches in November 2026.
The campaign seeks to shift public attention from the usual holiday gift‑giving narrative to the urgent needs of millions of children who will be awaiting essential supplies this Christmas—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter—rather than toys. "Anything you can imagine can be delivered to a door with a tap of a screen," Baxter noted.
"But for countless children this season, it isn’t toys they’re hoping for; it’s the life‑saving deliveries that will protect their childhoods." The Save Point event is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. Participants can sign up through a dedicated registration link, where they will receive guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, tips for engaging viewers, and resources to help maximize donations.
The format encourages individual streamers, gaming crews, and even casual players to host their own live sessions, share personal stories about why the cause matters to them, and rally their audiences to contribute. Beyond the live streams, the charity plans to incorporate interactive elements such as in‑game challenges, donation milestones that unlock special content, and collaborative multiplayer sessions that bring together streamers from different regions. These features are designed to keep viewers entertained while reinforcing the message that every contribution, big or small, directly supports children in need. In addition to the immediate fundraising goal, Save Point aims to build a lasting network of gaming‑focused ambassadors for Save the Children.
By offering post‑event support, educational materials, and opportunities for ongoing collaboration, the organization hopes to transform one‑off participants into long‑term advocates who will champion future campaigns. The initiative also reflects a broader trend within the nonprofit sector, where charities are increasingly experimenting with digital‑first experiences to reach younger, tech‑savvy audiences.
By meeting gamers where they already spend time—on platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Discord—Save the Children is positioning itself at the forefront of this evolution. Overall, Save Point represents a bold step toward diversifying fundraising approaches, making charitable giving more inclusive, and harnessing the collective energy of the gaming community to deliver vital resources to children who need them most during the holiday season.