Heads or Tails

Heads or Tails is one of the simplest, quickest, and most effective fundraising games you can add to your event and it never fails to lift the room. The rules couldn’t be easier: guests simply choose heads or tails and flip a coin, with the process of elimination continuing until just one winner remains. Because it’s so straightforward, it instantly engages the audience everyone can join in, and the energy spreads fast. At just £10–£20 per person to play, most guests will take part without hesitation, giving your fundraising total an early boost and creating an immediate sense of shared excitement and momentum.

From a charity’s perspective, it’s a dream fundraiser: it takes less than five minutes to run, needs only one prize, and delivers a rapid, high-energy win for your fundraising team. Played early in the evening, it breaks the ice, builds morale, and gets guests into a giving mindset before the main auction or pledge appeal. My top tip? Announce the game five minutes before you play to give your volunteers time to collect payments because with only one winner, it’s vital to secure those donations upfront. Fast, fun, inclusive, and profitable Heads or Tails is the perfect way to start your night on a high.

Heads Up

Another exciting fundraising game I run at charity events is Heads Up, a lively twist on charades played straight from my mobile phone. Much like a magician working table-to-table, I bring the game directly to each table, turning every group of guests into its own team. The rules are simple: a player holds the phone on their forehead so they can’t see the word, while their teammates give clues or act it out so they can guess correctly. It’s fast, fun, and gets everyone laughing, working together, and fully engaged in the evening’s energy.

To make it even more exciting, I track each table’s score and bring the two highest-scoring tables head-to-head for a final showdown, adding friendly competition and a memorable climax to the game. Tables can pay to play, typically around £50 per table, or it can simply be offered as a free icebreaker for guests. Like Heads or Tails, you don’t need a lavish prize: a bottle of champagne for the winning table is enough to celebrate the fun and foster generosity. Heads Up is a fantastic way to energize your event, encourage teamwork, and raise funds while keeping the atmosphere light, interactive, and unforgettable.

Fundraising games turn generosity into pure entertainment raising more money while keeping guests laughing, cheering, and fully engaged. From raffles to creative themed challenges, they break up the evening, spark excitement, and invite everyone to take part, no matter their budget. Because when people are having fun, they give more and that energy transforms your event into an unforgettable celebration of generosity.

Up until February 2020, I successfully ran my own game show business, delivering engaging and entertaining experiences to corporate clients. Some of the most popular games I hosted included Family Fortunes, The Generation Game, and Play Your Cards Right, bringing excitement and friendly competition to every event.

After selling the business, I integrated these interactive entertainment services into my role as an Emcee and Charity Auctioneer. This means that if you’re looking for a dynamic host to entertain your guests or innovative, unique fundraising games to elevate your event, I’d be delighted to bring my expertise and enthusiasm to make your occasion truly memorable.