Doing a quiz to fundraise for charity?
A charity quiz night is a brilliant way to bring people together while raising vital funds for children who need it most. Whether you're hosting a pub quiz, a virtual trivia night, or a school fundraiser, quizzes create friendly competition and community spirit—all while making a real difference to children's lives.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about organising a charity quiz, from setting your date to paying in your funds.
Ready to get started?
Plan the Basics
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Set a Date and Time
Choose a date that works for your audience. Weekends or Friday evenings tend to work well for adults, while school fundraisers might suit weekday afternoons or early evenings. Check for local events or holidays that might clash, and give yourself at least 6-8 weeks to promote your quiz.
Select a Venue
Think about where your quiz will work best:
Pub or community centre: Great for larger crowds with built-in facilities
School hall or village hall: Perfect for family-friendly events
Virtual quiz: Ideal if participants are spread across different locations—use platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams
Make sure your venue has:
Enough seating and tables for teams
Good acoustics (or a microphone if needed)
Accessible facilities
Any necessary licenses (especially if you're serving alcohol or playing music)
Plan Out Your Costs
Before you set your entry fee, work out your expenses. Common costs include:
Venue hire
Printing quiz sheets and answer papers
Prizes for the winning team
Refreshments (if you're providing them)
Promotion materials (posters, social media ads)
Music licensing (if playing copyrighted music)
Keep costs as low as possible by asking local businesses to donate prizes or sponsor the event. The more you save on expenses, the more goes to Save the Children.
Decide on Entry Fees
How much should you charge? Research similar events in your area to get a sense of what people expect to pay. Entry fees typically range from £5-£10 per person, or £20-£40 per team.
You could also offer:
Early bird discounts to encourage advance bookings
Higher fees on the door to reward early commitment
Family ticket options for school events
Make it clear that all proceeds go to Save the Children—people are often happy to pay more when they know it's for a good cause.
Create the Quiz
Quiz Format
Classic formats work brilliantly:
General knowledge rounds: Mix topics like history, geography, pop culture, and sport
Picture rounds: Show images of celebrities, landmarks, or logos
Music rounds: Play clips for teams to identify songs or artists
Theme rounds: Focus on a specific topic like the 1980s, food, or films
Aim for 6-8 rounds with 10 questions each, plus a tiebreaker. Keep each round to around 10 minutes.
TIP: Have a tie-break question ready with the closest guess winning overall. It could be something Save the Children related, e.g “what year was Save the Children founded?" (answer 1919).
Difficulty Level
Pitch questions to suit your audience. For a mixed crowd, include a range of easy, medium, and hard questions. Avoid anything too obscure—you want teams to feel challenged but not frustrated.
Free charity quiz sheets and question banks are available online if you need inspiration. Just make sure to credit sources where appropriate.
Fun Additions
Keep energy high with:
A halftime break for refreshments
Bonus points for fancy dress (tie it to a theme!)
"Joker" rounds where teams can double their points
Interactive elements like team name competitions
Fundraising Ideas for a Charity Quiz
Maximise your impact with these fundraising add-ons:
Raffles and Auctions
Sell raffle tickets throughout the evening, with donated prizes like gift vouchers, hampers, or experiences. You could also auction off special items or services—think signed memorabilia or a home-cooked meal from a local chef.
Sponsorships
Ask local businesses to sponsor rounds or donate prizes in exchange for publicity. You can thank sponsors on posters, social media, and on the night itself.
Sell Refreshments
Offering snacks, drinks, or a light buffet is a simple way to raise extra funds. Keep it simple with crisps, biscuits, tea, and coffee, or go bigger with a BBQ or bake sale.
Food Safety and Allergens
If you're providing food, make sure you:
Follow basic food hygiene practices (wash hands, use clean surfaces)
Label allergens clearly (especially nuts, gluten, dairy)
Check if your venue requires food safety certification for certain activities
For more guidance, visit our Fundraising FAQs
Donation Buckets
Place collection buckets at the entrance and exit, and pass them around during the break. Some guests may prefer to donate directly rather than participate in raffles.
Promote the Event
Get the word out early and often:
Design a poster: Include date, time, venue, entry fee, and a call-to-action. Mention it's for Save the Children to inspire participation.
Social media: Create a Facebook event, share updates on Instagram, and post reminders on local community groups
Email and word of mouth: Tell friends, family, colleagues, and neighbours. Personal invitations make a real difference.
Local press: Contact your local newspaper or radio station—they often love covering charity events
Download free charity quiz night posters and templates from our fundraising resources page.
After the Event
Once your quiz wraps up:
Thank everyone who attended, sponsored, or donated
Share photos and highlights on social media
Send a quick update to participants letting them know how much you raised
Collect feedback to make your next event even better
Celebrating your success keeps momentum going and shows the real-world impact of everyone's efforts.
In 2025, 1,500 supporters raised 2 million for Save the Children UK!
Paying in Your Money
Ready to send your funds to Save the Children? It's quick and easy:
Pay online: Visit savethechildren.org.uk/pay-in to transfer your total securely.
Pay by phone: Call our Supporter Care team on 020 7012 6400 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm).
Pay by post: Send a cheque made payable to "Save the Children" to:
Save the Children, 1 St John's Lane, London, EC1M 4AR
Make quiz night a game-changer for children
Every pound you raise helps give children a brighter future - whether that's access to education, protection from harm, or life-saving healthcare. By hosting a charity quiz, you're not just bringing people together for a fun night - you're changing lives.
So gather your questions, rally your friends, and let the quiz begin. Together, we can create lasting change for children everywhere.
How you're helping
£67 - could provide a nutritious daily school lunch for one student for one month.
£108 - could buy one one Emergancy Malaria Kit to treat 10,000 people for three months.
£187 - could pay for the construction of hand-washing facilities for 500 children to prevent spread of diseases.
Meet Tasmia
Tasmia held a pub quiz to fundraise for the London Marathon.
“Hosting a pub quiz was definitely a highlight of marathon training! So much fun to get everyone together and raised a decent £900!”
Want to be like Tasmia? Send us your photos to [email protected]
