The Impact Of Gaming On Charity
Over a quarter of American adults believe that video games are a complete waste of time. Video games are often associated with violence, addiction, and laziness. To add insult to injury, a study in 2020 found that there was no significant evidence to support the idea that video games improve problem solving skills. Coming hot off the heels of a global pandemic which forced most of the world to stay indoors, video games have become a life line for many people. Sometimes, this life line can become an addiction or a disorder.
Despite the negative reviews, year after year, the gaming industry keeps going, and with it, it's image is improving. Proponents of gaming frequently cite that video games help people think quickly, improve mental health and foster our social skills. We'd like to focus on another aspect of gaming that is often overlooked, the impact of gaming on charity.
Consumers of video games and the industry itself often collaborate in unique ways to support charitable causes. This has led to a significant impact on the world of charity. In 2022, Americans donated an incredible $499.33 billion dollars to charitable causes. Less than 5% of the American contribution to charity came from corporations, which only donated a measly $22 billion compared to their profits that year. The fortune 500 recorded a record-high aggregate revenue of about $41 trillion in 2022. The vast majority of donations came from individuals, foundations, and bequests.
Astonishingly, the total sum of money donated by Americans eclipses the entire $97.67 billion dollar market size of the gaming industry in 2022. Even though the market size of the gaming industry is four times smaller than the charitable giving industry, it has found a way to make a significant impact on the world of charity.
The Humble Bundle has raised over $250 million dollars for charity if you add up it's total lifetime contributions. On January of this year, the Awesome Games Done Quick marathon raised over $2.5 million dollars, and the year before it raised over $2.6 million, far exceeding their first marathon in 2010 which raised $10,000. Even more recently, and on a smaller scale, the Safe in Our World Charity Bundle on Fanatical raised over $200,000. The bundle sold out in record time, and the proceeds went to support mental health awareness.
We believe that the gaming industry can have a significant impact on the world of charity through it's unique ability to bring people who don't normally donate to charity together to support a cause.
We're here to highlight, share, and present the origin stories of 13 charities using gaming to make a difference in the world.
Humble Bundle - Pay What You Want
Humble Bundle has been around since 2010 and is one of the top charitable organizations in the gaming industry. They group multiple games together into bundles and sell them at a price determined by the buyer. The buyer can choose how much of their purchase goes to the game developers, Humble Bundle, and a charity of their choice. So far, the Humble Bundle has raised over $250 million for charity since its inception.
On October 13, 2017, Humble Bundle announced it had been acquired by IGN Entertainment. This acquisition has only had a positive impact on Humble Bundle's charitable efforts, and they continue to support a wide variety of charities.
In December 2019, the Humble Bundle has expanded its charitable efforts by launching the Humble Choice program. This program allows subscribers to choose from a selection of games each month and donate a portion of their subscription to charity.
Charity Gaming - Bringing Joy To Children In Hospitals
Charity Gaming is a non profit that provides video games to children in hospitals to bring joy back into their lives. They are powered by the generosity of the gaming community and have been able to provide video games to over 100 hospitals in the United States. Every year 43 children are diagnosed with cancer, and Charity Gaming is dedicated to helping them through their journey.
Charity Gaming started in 2011 by Jimmy Weller, who was inspired after his father passed away from cancer. Being in and out of hospitals for years, Jimmy saw the struggles that extremely sick children faced. He wanted to do something to help them and decided to use his passion for gaming to make a difference.
Getting involved is easy. You can donate money, video games, or gaming consoles. You can also volunteer your time to help organize events or raise awareness for the cause. A small donation of $50 can provide a new video game to a children's hospital for all kids to play while they are in the hospital.
https://www.charity-gaming.org/
Games Done Quick - Speedrunning For Charity
Games Done Quick is home to the worlds most famous speedrunning events. They host two major marathons every year, Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) and Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ). These marathons are a week long and feature speedrunners from around the world.
Games Done Quick started in 2010 with a small marathon called Classic Games Done Quick. The marathon raised $10,000 for the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere. Since then, the marathon has grown in size and popularity, and has raised over $2.5 million dollars in 2024.
Since it's inception in 2010, Games Done Quick has raised over $50 million dollars for charity, with an average donation of $56 and a median donation of $25. The money raised goes to a variety of different charities, including Doctors Without Borders, Prevent Cancer Foundation, and Direct Relief.
Gamers Outreach - Helping Others Level Up
Gamers Outreach is a charity that empowers hospitalized families through play. They provide equipment, technology, and software to help kids cope with treatment inside hospitals. They have been around since 2006 and have helped provide over 4.3 million gaming experiences each year. Gamers Outreach specializes in building portable gaming kiosks called "GO Karts" that can be wheeled around hospitals and used by children who are too sick to leave their rooms.
Gamers Outreach has also developed a software called "Player's Playbook" that helps hospital staff manage the gaming kiosks. The software allows hospital staff to monitor and control the gaming kiosks remotely, and it also provides a library of games that are safe and appropriate for children.
Gamers Outreach started in 2006 by Zach Wigal, who was inspired to help kids in hospitals after his own experience with a friend who was diagnosed with cancer. Zach organized a video game tournament to raise money for his friend, but the event was cancelled. A public safety officer deemed the gaming tournament a "hazard to the public safety of the community". Determined to make a difference, Zach organized a new event to illustrate the positive impact gamers can make when they come together to play video games.
Extra Life - Play Games, Heal Kids
Extra Life is a program through Children's Miracle Network Hospitals that mobilizes passionate gamers of all types to help sick and injured kids in their local communities. Participants fundraise year-round and during 12 or 24-hour gaming marathons.
Since its inception in 2008, Extra Life has raised over $130 million dollars for sick and injured kids. More than 100 websites and over 12,000 donors have helped support extra life over the last 15 years. Extra Life has been recognized in 2022 as the Peer-To-Peer Fundraising Organization of the Year by the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum.
Extra Life began in 2008 as a way of honoring a young lady named Victoria Enmon, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She was treated at Texas Children's Hospital and was a gamer. She inspired the Sarcastic Gamer community who sent video games and bought gifts to keep her spirits up. Tragically, Victoria passed away in January 2008, but her legacy lives on through Extra Life.
Games For Love - Helping Kids For Life
Games For Love is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides video games and toys to children in hospitals. They also provide video games to children who are in foster care, homeless, or who have been affected by natural disasters. They have been around since 2018 and have helped over 4.25 million children since. Games For Love is volunteer driven, they have over 850+ volunteers across 9 countries with a combined total of 165,000 hours of volunteer work.
Games For Love was founded by Nathan Blair in 2018 with a dream to help sick kids and allow every day heroes to make a difference. Nathan was inspired to start Games For Love after an experience with a prominent athelete at a celebrity softball game, when he realized that he could use his passion for gaming to make a difference in the world.
What makes Games for Love so different from other charities is that they think critically on solving problems at a global scale and attack the crux of the issue. They have a unique approach to charity that focuses on the long term impact of their work. With support from more than 40 major companies such as Amazon, Belle Feur, an G Fuel, they've created the "Games For Love" Ecosystem which supports children throughout their lives.
Child's Play - Play Games, Feel Better
Child's Play Charity is a non-profit organization that delivers therapeutic games and technology directly to pediatric hospitals to improve the lives of children. They are one of the oldest charities on our list, having been around since 2003. With a 4 star rating on Charity Navigator, Child's Play Charity is one of the most transparent and accountable charities in the world. Their approach to charity is unique, they use Amazon Wishlists and a network of over 180 hospitals to deliver video games and toys to children in need.
Child's Play Charity started on November 2003, by the authors of Penny Arcade as a challenge. They wanted to prove that the negative portrayal of video games was wrong. In particular, they wanted to show that video games could be a positive force in the world. They started by asking their readers to donate toys, games, and money to the Seattle Children's Hospital. In less than a single month they managed to raise over $250,000 in toys, games, and money. Since their inception, Child's Play Charity has raised over $50 million dollars for children in hospitals.
https://childsplaycharity.org/
Karmafy - Play & Do Good
Karmafy is a for-profit company that uses mobile games to raise money for charity. Karmafy is a technology startup founded in 2014 that has developed a platform that allows game developers to integrate charitable giving into their games. The platform is designed to help game developers increase user engagement and retention by allowing players to donate to charity through in-game purchases. Karmafy has raised over $1 million dollars for charity and has helped over 20 charities around the world.
Karmafy was founded by Jonas Eneroth and Save Mariner as a B2B solution that allows companies to improve their "Triple bottom line" through deeper engagement with users. Their gamification system is designed to help companies increase their social impact, user engagement, and revenue. Karmafy won the "Tech for a Better World" award at the Delta Summit in 2019 and won several awards during the 2018 Malta Business Review.
Popular games that have integrated Karmafy's platform include Dancing With The Stars, Slam Dunk Basketball, Super Shooting Star, and TWIST3D
Gamechanger - Tech For Good
Gamechanger is a non-profit organization that uses technology to support children and families affected by life-threatening illnesses. GameChangers donate money, fundraise, and volunteer their time to help children in need. Gamechanger donates 90% of every dollar directly to patients, they work closely with pediatricians to make sure their programs improve patient experiences.
Gamechanger Charity was founded in 2006 after Taylor Carol was diagnosed with cancer. Taylor was a gamer and he found that video games helped him cope with his treatment. The Carol family started Gamechanger Charity to help other children who were going through similar experiences.
https://gamechangercharity.org/
Special Effect - Games Changing Lives
Over 16 million people in the UK have a disability which makes it difficult to access the regular forms of entertainment the rest of us take for granted. Special Effect is a UK based charity that uses technology to help people with physical disabilities play video games. They provide custom gaming setups, software, and hardware to help people with disabilities play video games. Special Effect has been around since 2007 and has helped over 1,000 people with disabilities play video games.
Special Effect collaborates directly with game industry professionals to increase the accessibiity of video games. They have a wealth of advice on their DevKit website as well as online guides for accessibility for popular games. Special Effect pioneered the Eye Gaze Games and EyeMine system which allow people with disabilities to play games using only their eyes.
Special Effect was founded in 2007 by Dr. Mick Donegan who spent many years of practice-based work in the field of assistive technology. Thanks to the support of the gaming community, Special Effect has been able to help thousands of people with disabilities play video games.
https://www.specialeffect.org.uk/
Stack Up - Veterans Are Our Mission
Stack Up is a non-profit organization that supports veterans and active duty military personnel through the power of video games. They provide video games, gaming consoles, and gaming accessories to veterans and active duty military personnel to help them cope with the stresses of deployment and combat. Stack Up has been around since 2015 and provides support through a set of unique programs called The Stacks, Supply Crates, Air Assaults and the Stack Up Overwatch Program.
They are focused on crisis mitigation and mental health gaming support. Stack up started in 2015 by Captain Stephen Machuga, who was inspired to help veterans after his own experience with PTSD. When a friend of his was deployed to Afghanistan, Stephen sent him a care package with video games and gaming consoles. The care package was a hit and it inspired Stephen to start Stack Up.
AbleGamers
AbleGamers is a non-profit organization that provides custom gaming setups, software, and hardware to help people with disabilities play video games. They have been around since 2004 and have helped over 1,000 people with disabilities play video games. AbleGamers has a wealth of resources for people including an accessible games developer guide, an engineering research devision, and an accessible games support system to help people with disabilities play video games.
AbleGamers is one of the oldest charities on this list with 20 active years as pioneers in inclusive play, over 500,000 dollars in equipment donated, and 600 trained developers making accessible games. AbleGamers was founded in 2004 by Mark Barlet who believes that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the world of gaming. Mark was inspired to start AbleGamers after his friend Stephanie Walker was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He wanted to help her play video games and realized that there were no resources available to help people with disabilities play video games. Mark's dedication has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the AAPD Paul G. Hearn Leadership Award and the Multiple Sclerosis Society DiVinche and Leo Award
Charity Games
Charity Games is a community of developers, designers, artists, musicians, and gamers united by a common goal: using the power of gaming to create a positive impact on the world. Charity Games has built an online arcade dedicated to creating fun and free browser games that help support charitable causes.
Charity Games is the youngest organization on this list. Charity Games' first game released in October of 2023 by Miguel Campos who was getting sick and tired of all the advertisements and microtransactions in mobile games. He was inspired by games like Free Rice to create a platform that allowed people to play games and help people in need. The goal was to create a platform which let anyone donate to charity without spending a single penny while also having fun.
He started by building a simple game that generated water for people in need called Puzzle Words while on a flight from San Diego to New York. The game was a hit, and it generated over 2,000 liters of water in the first month. Since then, Charity Games has grown to include over 30 games thanks to independent contributions from developers around the world.
