Gaming is a huge and growing industry, valued at USD 162.32 billion in 2020 and expected to reach a value of USD 295.63 billion by 2026. Many charities have tapped into the potential of this platform to educate, fundraise, and engage users with their cause.
The capability to immerse players in an environment opens up a wealth of possibilities to build strong emotional connections and its ability to reach and educate a younger generation makes it a force worth reckoning with.
The ease of downloadable content (DLC) and in-game donations lends itself to substantial fundraising potential. Here are 3 great examples of charities that are adopting this platform and creating valuable gaming partnerships.
War Child
The charity War Child has embraced the gaming world with impressive creativity. One great example is their partnership with BANDAI NAMCO. They have created downloadable content, delivered through intricate storytelling, from the perspective of a child in a war torn world. It not only focuses on the harsh reality of war, but also on the resilience of children, and their contrasting playfulness and vulnerability.
$1 from each "This War of Mine: The Little Ones" DLC purchase goes to War Child, and has gone on to raise in surplus of $500,000. Through this creative partnership they have raised huge funds to support their work and have also created awareness around their cause in a truly engaging way.
Autistica
Autistica Play is a branch of Autistica, aiming to connect autism with the gaming industry and its players. It aims to raise funds and awareness for autism research, as well as improving quality of life through more inclusive and diversified gaming and bridging the employment gap within the industry.
One example of their work is their involvement with autistic individuals in game creation, helping to build games which benefit those on the spectrum, as well as educating those without autism. Through this process they are adding value at every stage; involving those with autism in the creation process provides an opportunity to use and build skills, which in turn feeds into games with relevance to those they are helping and educating.
WWF
WWF has partnered up with Supertreat through its game Solitaire Grand Harvest, with the gaming company signing up to donate $100,000 throughout 2021. On top of this there will be two in-game activations, and educational messages will be delivered to the game’s two million daily players. They will also host in-game events, with the first one this month expected to generate at least $50,000 for WWF.
By aligning with a gaming partner with shared values, it has increased relevance on the platform and can deliver educational messages and fundraising campaigns that resonate with players.
These 3 examples alone prove that gaming offers a large and exciting spectrum of opportunities for charities to get involved. If you’d like some advice with your charity’s gaming strategy, get in touch.