How to Organize a Secret Santa or Gift Exchange
Add participants, set a budget, draw names — BennyList emails everyone their assignment automatically. Works for Secret Santa, White Elephant, and any group gift draw.
Works for Secret Santa, White Elephant, or any gift draw.
Step by step
Run a gift exchange in four steps
Create a new gift exchange
From your dashboard, click New Exchange. Give it a name like "Family Christmas 2026" and choose a type — Secret Santa or White Elephant.
Set a budget and reveal date
Add a spending budget so everyone knows what to spend. Set a reveal date — assignments stay hidden until then, building suspense.
Add participants by email
Type each person's email address and add them one by one. You can include yourself or let others join. Add exclusions if certain pairs shouldn't be matched.
Draw names and let BennyList handle the rest
When everyone is added, click "Draw Names." BennyList secretly assigns each person a gift recipient and emails everyone their assignment — you never see who got who.
Quick Tips
Make your exchange run smoothly
Set a reveal date so the suspense builds — assignments are emailed on the reveal date.
Add exclusions to prevent couples or family members from drawing each other.
Set a budget so everyone knows exactly how much to spend.
Participants can create a BennyList wishlist and share it with the group as a gift hint.
You can run multiple exchanges at once — one for work, one for family.
Secret Santa keeps assignments private from the organizer too.
Gift exchange FAQ
How do I set up a Secret Santa on BennyList?
Go to your dashboard, click New Exchange, choose Secret Santa, add your participants by email, set a budget and reveal date, then click Draw Names. BennyList emails everyone their assigned recipient automatically.
What is the difference between Secret Santa and White Elephant?
Secret Santa assigns each person one specific recipient to buy a gift for — assignments are kept secret. White Elephant is a gift swap game where everyone brings a wrapped gift and takes turns choosing or stealing from the pile. BennyList supports both formats.
Does the organizer see who got who?
No. BennyList handles the assignment algorithm without revealing the pairings to the organizer. The only way to see who got who is for participants to share voluntarily.
Can I prevent certain people from being matched together?
Yes. Before drawing names, you can add exclusions — for example, preventing spouses or roommates from being paired. Open the Exclusions section and add the pairs you want to keep separate.
What happens after names are drawn?
Each participant receives an email with their assigned recipient. If the recipient has a BennyList wishlist, a link to it is included. Participants log in (or sign up) to see their assignment in the exchange detail page.
Can I redo the draw if someone drops out?
Yes. If a participant drops out before the exchange starts, you can remove them and redraw names. Be aware that any emails already sent about the previous draw will be outdated.
Do participants need a BennyList account?
Participants need to create a free account to view their assignment online. They will receive an email with a link that takes them directly to the exchange and their assigned recipient.
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