At Save the Children, their mission is clear, to ensure every child has the chance to grow up healthy, educated, and safe, no matter where they are in the world. They tirelessly work to create lasting change for children in need, addressing challenges like poverty, lack of education, and child protection issues in vulnerable communities. With a mission grounded in hope and action, they have become one of the most recognised and trusted organisations, committed to making sure no child is left behind.
But what truly sets Save the Children apart is their innovative approach to fundraising. Every other year, they bring their supporters together through dynamic events that raise essential funds for their life-changing work. One standout event? Their bi-annual corporate gala dinner, this year was a Mamma Mia-themed gala that put the “fun” in fundraising.
The challenge: creating an engaging and competitive pledge moment
Save the Children’s corporate gala isn’t just any dinner, it’s a gathering of passionate corporate partners, all determined to make a difference. This year, they needed an exciting way to encourage pledges while tapping into the competitive spirit of the businesses attending.
Their goal was simple, to create a pledge moment that was not only engaging but also highly competitive, motivating attendees to give generously and quickly. They wanted the energy in the room to mirror the upbeat, lively spirit of the Mamma Mia theme, with excitement building as donations poured in.
The solution: A fun but functional leaderboard
To make this happen, we collaborated with Save the Children to design an all-new, interactive leaderboard that would keep the audience on their toes. Our solution was a digital leaderboard that didn’t just display numbers but actively encouraged competition between the companies attending.
Each corporate table had its name up on the leaderboard. As donations and bids came in, attendees could watch their company’s name rise up the ranks in real time. The Mamma Mia theme was woven into the design by featuring boats racing toward an island. The more a table donated, the closer their boat got to the island. To reach the island, each table had to raise over £2,500. It was a visual, fun, and completely customisable way to motivate attendees to get involved.
One exciting feature of Save the Children’s event was the confetti cannon that would go off every time a table reached its target on the leaderboard. This added a fun visual celebration on the event floor, complementing the leaderboard updates and enhancing the overall competitive experience.
These features added a layer of excitement to the evening, transforming a traditional pledge moment into an interactive, competitive race to the finish. It wasn't just about donating, it was about winning, as corporate teams encouraged each other to pledge more, faster, and make their way to the top of the leaderboard.
The outcome: Record-breaking pledges
The result was incredible. They received nearly 200 pledges in just half an hour, the highest number of pledges Save the Children has ever received during a pledge moment at one of their events. The leaderboard fuelled the competitive spirit, ensuring that attendees were fully engaged and motivated to give generously.
The Mamma Mia event proved that when it comes to making a difference, a little creativity goes a long way and that a competitive edge can help raise the bar (and the funds).
Save the Children’s work is invaluable, and events like this showcase the power of collaboration, innovation, and generosity. We’re proud to highlight them as our charity partner of the month and look forward to seeing the lasting impact these funds will have on the lives of children around the world.
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