How to raise money for charity with a video game tournament

Host a free gaming tournament for a charity, link its donation page on the tournament page and stream, and let donations go straight to the charity.

To raise money for charity with a video game tournament, pick a charity, host a free tournament for it, and send players and viewers to the charity's own donation page during the event. On RoundsWon you name the charity and its donation link when you create the tournament, and the tournament page shows it. Entry stays free, and donations go straight to the charity: RoundsWon never touches the money.

How a charity tournament raises money

The tournament is the reason people show up. The donations come from the people watching and playing who want to support the cause. That means two things matter most:

• People need to see the cause on the page, on stream and in every post.
• Donating needs to be one tap, to the charity's own page, at the moment people feel like giving.

Entry is always free on RoundsWon. You can not make a donation a step to enter, and you should not. A free tournament fills more easily, and every extra player brings friends and viewers who might give.

Step 1: pick a charity and get its donation link

• Pick a cause your community cares about. Gaming communities often back children's hospitals, mental health charities and local causes, but the best choice is one you can talk about honestly.
• Use the charity's own donation page. Many charities have a page for fundraisers, or a link for a peer to peer fundraiser in your name, which keeps a running total for you. Ask the charity which link they want you to use.
• Tell the charity. Many have a community fundraising team that can give you logos, wording and sometimes a page of their own for your event. Ask before using their name or logo.
• Check the rules where you live. Fundraising and prize events have rules in many places, especially if you add a prize. When in doubt, ask the charity.

Step 2: create the tournament

Open Host a tournament:

1. Pick the game and the format. Single elimination is the easiest to follow on stream. See Tournament formats explained.
2. Add the charity: its name and its donation link. The tournament page shows it so every visitor sees the cause and a way to give.
3. Add your stream link if you are streaming it. It plays first on the tournament page.
4. Pick Stream overlay if you want a stream card and bracket overlay on screen.
5. Put the cause in the name, like "Spring Cup for the Food Bank", and explain it in the description.

Step 3: give donors a reason to give during the event

Most donations happen when something happens. Plan moments:

• Milestones. "At the halfway mark of our goal, I play the next round with a handicap."
• Donor picks. A donation lets someone pick the map, the character or a rule for the next match. Keep this separate from entry: players never pay to play.
• Shout outs. Thank every donor by name on stream, if they are happy to be named.
• A clear goal. Tell people what the total buys, using the charity's own numbers, not guesses.

Step 4: put the cause on stream

Add the stream card and the bracket overlay as browser sources in OBS or Streamlabs (see Tournament stream overlays). The QR code on the card opens the tournament page on a viewer's phone, where the charity and its donation link are shown.

If your fundraising page has its own widget for a total or recent donations, add that as another browser source next to the bracket.

Step 5: bring in sponsors and prizes

A local business or brand may back a charity event more easily than a normal one.

• Sponsors show on the poster, the tournament page and every stream card. A sponsor might match donations up to an amount, or give a prize.
• Prizes can be cash you pay yourself or a physical item, shown with a picture on the page. You or the sponsor hand the prize over directly. RoundsWon never holds or pays out money.

See How to get sponsors for a small tournament and Tournament prize ideas that are not cash.

Step 6: spread the word

• Post the tournament link in your Discord, on socials and on stream a week or two out.
• Ask players to share it. Players who stream can add their own stream card, so their viewers see the cause too.
• Ask the charity to share it on their channels.
• Remind people the day before and an hour before.

Step 7: after the event

• Share the final total from the fundraising page, and a screenshot of it.
• Thank the players, the donors, the sponsors and the charity.
• Post the final bracket and the best clips.
• Ask the charity if they want to do it again next year. A yearly event grows.

Keep it transparent

People give more when they trust where the money goes. Send donations to the charity's own page, never to your own account. Say who the charity is, link to them, and share the result. Read Charity gaming tournament ideas and checklist for a full list to tick off before the day.

FAQ

Can I charge an entry fee and give it to charity?

Not on RoundsWon. Entry is always free, and nobody has to donate or pay to join. Ask players and viewers to give to the charity's own page instead.

Does RoundsWon take a cut of the donations?

No. Donations go straight to the charity through its own donation link. RoundsWon never sees, holds or processes the money.

Do I need the charity's permission?

It is best to ask. Many charities welcome community fundraisers and will tell you which link to use and how to use their name and logo.

What game is best for a charity tournament?

One your community already plays, with short matches that are fun to watch. Fighting games, Rocket League, chess and party games all work well on stream.