This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its debut gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, aptly named Save Point. The new venture merges the excitement of video games with the power of live streaming to rally support for the organization’s mission during the most charitable time of the year. Fiona Baxter, the charity’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for Save Point emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the organization’s connection with the gaming community.
"We wanted a way to reach gamers not just as occasional donors but as active participants in a cause we care deeply about," Baxter explained. "Save Point gives us that platform, allowing us to forge partnerships with creators and invite individual supporters to get involved in a format that feels natural to them." Unlike traditional charity events such as marathons or galas, a gaming fundraiser offers a more inclusive avenue for participation.
"Not everyone has the stamina or the time to run a marathon," Baxter noted, "but virtually anyone can sit down at a console or a PC, start a stream, and contribute in a way that fits their schedule. It showcases a different kind of supporter—one who can turn a hobby into a meaningful impact." To anchor the event, Save the Children has teamed up with popular online content creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped the charity raise over £5,000 earlier this year.
The partnership is intended to be mutually beneficial: the streamer gains a cause to champion, while the charity taps into a vibrant audience that is already accustomed to donating during live broadcasts. Baxter emphasized that the organization hopes the relationship with TheKapFantastic and other gamers will extend beyond the two‑day event. "Our goal is to keep building bridges with the gaming world long after Save Point concludes. If we can introduce more people in this community to the work we do and why it matters, we’ll have created lasting ambassadors for the cause," she said.
"Success for us isn’t just the amount raised on December 5‑6; it’s also the new cohort of supporters who decide to keep gaming for us in the future because of the experience they had." Because this is Save the Children’s first foray into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, the team is approaching it as a learning opportunity. "We’ll be gathering feedback from participants, viewers, and partners to understand what worked and what didn’t," Baxter added.
"That insight will be crucial as we aim to scale up and deliver even bigger, more engaging gaming events year after year." Baxter described gamers and streamers as the "unsung heroes of fundraising," highlighting the growing influence of the gaming sector in philanthropy. She pointed out that the community is beginning to set a "new, innovative standard" for how charitable causes can be supported. "Gamers are storytellers at heart. We love immersive narratives, imaginative worlds, and the thrill of discovery.
When we channel that passion toward real‑world change, we demonstrate just how powerful the collective can be when we play for a purpose," she 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 aims to draw attention to the stark reality that, for millions of children worldwide, the most essential gifts this Christmas are not toys but vital supplies—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
Baxter underscored this point, noting, "In the digital age, we can order almost anything with a tap on a screen. Yet for countless children, the deliveries they need are life‑saving essentials, not entertainment." The event is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. During those 48 hours, participating gamers will stream their play sessions, set fundraising targets, and encourage viewers to donate directly to Save the Children. The platform will provide tools for real‑time donation tracking, leaderboards, and interactive challenges to keep audiences engaged and motivated.
Anyone interested in joining Save Point can sign up through the charity’s dedicated registration page. Once registered, participants will receive a comprehensive guide covering technical setup, best practices for engaging a live audience, and tips for maximizing fundraising potential.
The guide also includes suggestions for integrating charitable messaging into gameplay commentary, ensuring that the cause remains front‑and‑center throughout the stream. In addition to the main streaming component, Save Point will feature a series of mini‑events, such as speed‑run challenges, collaborative multiplayer sessions, and charity‑themed game tournaments. These side activities are designed to attract a diverse range of gamers—from casual players to competitive e‑sports enthusiasts—thereby broadening the fundraiser’s reach.
The charity hopes that the momentum generated by Save Point will inspire other nonprofit organizations to explore similar gaming‑driven initiatives. By demonstrating that the gaming community can mobilize quickly, donate generously, and spread awareness effectively, Save the Children aims to set a precedent for future collaborations between the philanthropic and gaming sectors.
Overall, Save Point represents a strategic evolution in how charities engage with modern audiences. By leveraging the immersive appeal of video games and the interactive nature of live streaming, Save the Children is not only raising funds for critical deliveries this Christmas but also cultivating a new generation of donors who see philanthropy as an integral part of their gaming experience. The organization looks forward to seeing how this pioneering event unfolds and to building on its successes for years to come.