Charity Quiz Night: How to Run One That Raises Money

A quiz night is the ultimate low-effort, high-return fundraiser. A free pub function room, a quizmaster with a microphone, and teams paying £2-5 per person. Total cost: under £50. Total raised: £500-3,000.

The Basics

• Venue — pub function room (usually free if you bring 50+ paying customers), community hall (£50-100 hire)
• Team size — 4-6 people per team
• Entry fee — £2-5 per person, or £10-25 per team
• Rounds — 6-8 rounds, 10 questions each, plus picture/music rounds
• Duration — 2-2.5 hours including a break

Sample Running Order

1. Doors open, teams register (30 min)
2. Welcome, explain rules, introduce the cause (5 min)
3. Rounds 1-3 (30 min)
4. Picture or music round during break
5. Break — raffle ticket sales, bar, food (20 min)
6. Rounds 4-6 (30 min)
7. Specialist round (choose your category)
8. Answers and scoring (15 min)
9. Raffle draw
10. Prize giving and thank you

Revenue Maximisation

• Raffle — sell strips of tickets throughout the evening (£1 per strip, 5 strips for £5). Source donated prizes.
• "Buy a clue" option — £1 per team to buy one answer. Fun and generates extra revenue.
• Joker round — teams nominate one round where their score doubles
• Half-time auction — auction 2-3 items during the break
• Donation ask — a brief, compelling 2-minute appeal before the final round
• QR code on tables — link to PledgeNow for instant digital donations

Revenue Example