Christmas quiz for charity: how to organise it

Organise a Christmas quiz for charity in the Netherlands: hall or online, six rounds, teams via the donation page and prizes within the gambling rules.

In short You can organise a Christmas quiz for charity in about 6 weeks, in a hall or online. Pick 6 rounds, let teams of 4 to 6 people sign up through a donation page and keep the prizes small. If you want raffles or a prize wheel, check the rules of your municipality and the Dutch Gambling Authority first.

this article describes the rules in the Netherlands.

Why a Christmas quiz works for a good cause

A quiz brings teams together who each contribute an amount and enjoy a whole evening of fun. You need no expensive venue or stall, and volunteers can each pick one role: questions, jury, tech or welcome.

It also scales. A neighbourhood quiz with 8 teams is doable with 5 to 10 people, and an online edition can handle more teams without extra hall rental. Compare it with other formats in our Christmas fundraising ideas for the Netherlands.

In a hall or online: what suits you?

A quiz in a hall gives atmosphere and lets you sell coffee, soup or mulled wine on the spot. You do need a venue, tables and a sound system, and you should count on about 2 hours of programme plus half an hour for welcoming people.

An online quiz can be run from a living room and also reaches former members and family abroad. You use a video call and a simple answer form. You can read more about this approach in the article on an online Christmas campaign with a digital experience.

  • Hall: atmosphere, extra sales at the bar, more preparation.
  • Online: low threshold, no rental, technology that has to work.
  • Hybrid: teams in the hall and at home, only if you have a second technician.

Six rounds that always work

Six rounds of ten questions make an evening of about two hours.

  • Christmas music: a 10-second clip, which song is it?
  • Christmas around the world: customs and dishes from other countries.
  • Picture round: cropped photos of Christmas jumpers, trees or villages.
  • Local round: questions about your own neighbourhood, club or cause.
  • Guess the number: the closest wins, for example the number of lights on a string.
  • Final: five quick questions, double points.

Teams and sign-up through the donation page

Let each team sign up for a fixed amount per team, for example €40, and a team name. A team has 4 to 6 players. That way you know in advance how many tables or screens you need.

On your donation page, a participant can pay in three steps: amount, personal details and overview. You can show amounts with a label, such as "Team entry" or "Extra contribution". Ask for the team name and the team captain in the message or in a separate email.

Keep in mind that a donation is not the same as a payment for taking part. For an ordinary gift, a deduction with the Dutch tax authority (Belastingdienst) is only possible if the donor receives nothing in return. An entry fee for a quiz is therefore not an ordinary gift. Say so honestly in your communication. Unsure about the status of your organisation? Ask the Belastingdienst.

Prizes: only with the rules at hand

A prize for the winning team, such as a Christmas hamper or a voucher from a local business, keeps the quiz playful. If you also want to sell raffle tickets or spin a wheel, these are games of chance. In the Netherlands, games of chance are forbidden unless the Betting and Gaming Act (Wet op de kansspelen) allows them. Unsure whether your prize falls under that law? Ask your municipality or the Kansspelautoriteit before announcing.

  • Raffle with prizes and bonuses together under €4,500: licence from the municipality where the winners are drawn.
  • Prizes and bonuses of €4,500 or more: licence from the Kansspelautoriteit, with at least 40% of the proceeds going to the cause.
  • Bingo or wheel of fortune: no licence, but notify the municipality at least 14 days in advance. The association has existed for at least 3 years, a prize is at most €400 per series and all prizes together at most €1,550 per gathering.

Extra caution applies to an online quiz. An online bingo is only allowed in a closed circle, for example the members of your association. An online game open to everyone with paid participation is illegal according to the Kansspelautoriteit. So keep an online quiz free of raffle tickets and wheels.

What a Christmas market calls a "tombola" legally counts as a raffle. We could not find which conditions your municipality sets for a raffle under €4,500. So ask your municipality. You can find more explanation in our article on raffles and tombolas at a Christmas campaign.

How to do it with WeGlow.world

With WeGlow.world you create a donation page for your quiz where people can give once or monthly, also from their phone. You can set a thank-you text, so that every team gets a personal message after signing up. You can start for free with an account via the sign-up page.

Supporters can also start their own campaign page, for example a team captain looking for sponsors for their team. That widens your reach without you sending every email yourself.

We are also working on four digital Christmas experiences. This is a concept until the official launch. In the Starry Sky every gift becomes a star and you fly from star to star, handy as the closing image of your online final. At the Card Wall, envelopes hang on a string where every card is a stamp. Have a look at the Starry Sky or the Card Wall. Questions? Get in touch via the contact page.

Your plan in six weeks

Work backwards from the quiz night. Six weeks is enough for a quiz in a hall, and for an online quiz you can manage with four weeks. The whole process is covered in detail in our plan for a Christmas campaign in the Netherlands.

  1. Week 6: fix the date, format, cause and budget. Apply for a licence or notification if you want prizes or raffles.
  2. Week 5: set up the donation page and open sign-up.
  3. Week 4: write the questions and have them proofread.
  4. Week 2: send the teams a reminder with the time, place or link.
  5. Quiz night: welcome, rounds, results, thank-you speech and show the total amount.
  6. The week after: thank-you email with photos and the final amount.

Only email people who gave consent and put an unsubscribe link in every message. For email, consent is the main rule; the exception for charities concerns the telephone.

Frequently asked questions

How many teams do I need?

Start with 8 to 12 teams of 4 to 6 players. That is a full hall without the results taking long. Online you can handle more teams, as long as a second person checks the answers.

How much should the entry fee be?

That is up to you. Many organisations choose a fixed amount per team, such as €40, plus the option to give extra. Keep it low enough that a neighbourhood team does not have to think twice.

Can I sell raffle tickets during the quiz?

That is a raffle under the Betting and Gaming Act. Under €4,500 in prizes you apply for a licence from the municipality, above that from the Kansspelautoriteit. Ask your municipality for the local conditions.

Is the entry fee deductible for participants?

An ordinary gift is only deductible if the donor receives nothing in return, and only for an ANBI (a charity with public benefit status). Paying to take part in a quiz is therefore not an ordinary gift. An extra contribution with nothing in return can be. If in doubt, ask the Belastingdienst.

Can the quiz also be held online?

Yes, with a video call and an answer form. Do not run raffles or a wheel online for a paying public, because according to the Kansspelautoriteit that is illegal. If you are unsure about your type of prize, ask the Kansspelautoriteit first.

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