Run this exchange between adult club members, with gifts for people. Agree a modest spending limit, invite members to opt in and arrange handover at a club meeting. Pets are not separate entrants, and the game is not a fundraising activity.
This guide covers the organisation of a regular adult club’s exchange. It does not recommend pet products or provide veterinary advice.
Agree the boundaries first
Sharing an interest in animals does not mean everyone wants an animal-themed gift. Ask for two or three wishes for the person and any categories they would rather avoid. Do not request health information about people or animals.
Agree that each adult enters once, joining is optional and declining needs no explanation. Discuss a spending limit people are comfortable with before opening entries. Do not treat membership of the club chat as consent to join the draw.
Choose a method that fits the group
If all participants can meet, folded paper slips can work. Check that nobody draws themselves; redraw if necessary. Do not post photographs of the pairings.
When entries arrive between meetings, an online draw can reduce individual messages. Whichever method you choose, the club still needs its own budget, deadlines and handover arrangements.
Five steps to prepare
- Invite adults separately from the club’s usual activities. Explain that gifts are for people.
- Close opt-in entries on an agreed date.
- Collect a few neutral wishes and unwanted categories within the limit.
- Announce when participants receive their match and when gifts will be exchanged.
- Before the meeting, check readiness and handover plans without demanding receipts or revealing the giver.
The invitation templates can help with wording; the linked guide is in Russian. Keep the agreed rules in one message.
A sample handover plan
This is an illustrative plan, not a report from a real club. Eight adults opt in, entries close two weeks before the meeting and matches are shared the next day.
| Decision | Example agreement |
|---|---|
| Recipient | One adult member, never a pet |
| Wishes | Two personal wishes and categories to avoid |
| Handover | After the meeting, with no compulsory photos |
| Absence | A later handover through the organiser, by agreement |
| Personal details | No addresses or contacts in the shared list |
Use the Russian-language modest-budget gift examples only to discuss a realistic limit, not as a guarantee of current prices.
Wording to adapt
“We are organising an optional gift exchange between adult members. Each person joins once; pets are not included in the draw. We will agree the budget, entry deadline and handover date before starting. Please share wishes for yourself and anything you would prefer not to receive. It is fine to sit this one out.”
Add the agreed amount and dates before sending. Keep home addresses, phone numbers and health details out of the message.
Where Osanta fits
The Osanta game page starts with the organiser’s email, followed by the game name, draw date and budget. Its public instructions describe one participation link, wishes and emailed matches on draw day; participants do not need a separate account.
This reduces manual collection and messaging. The club remains responsible for voluntary participation and a backup handover. Osanta does not select suitable pet gifts or arrange delivery for the group.
Check before starting
- Only consenting adults are entered, once each.
- Pets are not participants.
- The budget, draw date and handover date are clear.
- Wishes contain no sensitive information.
- There is a backup plan without public addresses.
- Joining, photos and sharing a gift story remain optional.
Once those points are agreed, the game start form is the next step.
Organizing a gift exchange?
Create a Secret Santa game online and send the link to participants.
Questions on this topic
Do people or pets enter the draw?
Only adults enter this format. Each person submits one entry; pets are not separate participants.
Can the gift be for an animal?
Agree in advance that gifts are for people. Use the recipient’s own wishes instead of guessing what their animal needs.
Must every club member take part?
No. Collect explicit opt-in consent before the draw; declining requires no explanation.
What if someone misses the meeting?
Agree a later handover or transfer through the organiser with the people involved. Do not post a home address.
Do participants need an Osanta account?
The public game page says participants do not need a separate account. The organiser starts with an email, then sets the game name, draw date and budget.