5 Ways to Turn Your Gift Exchange Into a Charitable Event

White Elephant gift exchanges are all about “stealing” desirable gifts from others, and it’s precisely this “ruthless” competition that makes the game so amusing. Of course, it’s all in good fun. We enjoy gift swaps because they give us license to be greedy at a time of the year when we know we’re supposed to be giving to others.

But what if you could have it both ways? What if you could run a hilariously cutthroat gift exchange while also giving to a worthy charity? Well, good news – there’s nothing stopping you.

Of course, not every Christmas gathering needs to be a charitable event, and it’s worth bearing in mind that many people have their own routines for giving to their favorite causes over the holidays. But in some cases – especially when we’re talking about families and other groups of like-minded people – incorporating donations into your gift exchange makes perfect sense. Here are some ways to do just that.

1. Set up a “Donation Station”

The easiest and least obtrusive way to get donations is to simply ask for them. Pick a charity that you support (and one most other people can get behind), and dedicate a space for it at your gift exchange event. Donations could be money, food, toys, or whatever the charity calls for – just make sure the relevant information is included in the invitation so people can come prepared. At the Donation Station, you could set out candy canes, cookies, or some other treat for people to take as a thank you for their donations.

2. Donate the money that would have been spent on gifts

If you want to make the spirit of giving the centerpiece of your gift swap, here is a cute idea for you. Instead of having people buy White Elephant gifts, encourage them to donate the money they would have spent (typically $20 or so) to a popular charity. Then, have a no-cost theme for your gift exchange, such as regifted or handmade items. This way, everyone gets to enjoy the lighthearted competition of a gift swap and the warm feeling that comes from helping others.

3. Buy one, gift one

The idea here is for everyone to bring two of the same item – one for the gift swap, and one to donate to a charity. While I’ve seen this type of charitable gift exchange mentioned elsewhere, it does have a clear downside. The type of gifts that make for a good gift swap (funny/novel) may not be the type of gifts that make good donations (practical). However, this option could work just fine with the right charity.

4. Have players vote for a charity

Host a standard White Elephant gift exchange, but ask invitees to donate money to a common pot in addition to bringing their gifts to swap. Next to the gift pile, put a chalkboard, whiteboard, or other sign listing a handful of popular charities. As each person takes their turn, they vote for a charity, and at the end of the gift exchange, the pot goes to the one with the most votes. To add to the drama, keep the votes secret and make a big show of revealing the winner.

5. Hold a raffle or silent auction

This option requires little explanation. Simply run a raffle or silent auction alongside the gift exchange, and announce the winner(s) when the swap is over. For the prize(s), ask people to contribute crafts, artwork, and yummy baked goods, or just donate their time by putting everything together into attractive gift baskets. Of course, if you don’t mind spending your own money on a fabulous grand prize, that works too.

The spirit of giving is a big part of what makes Christmas so special, so why not incorporate it into your gift exchange? I know not all of these options will work for every situation, but I hope you found one or two that sparked some ideas. Good luck and Happy Holidays!