Last updated: 2026-01-13

For most fundraising livestreams in the U.S., your simplest path is to run the show in StreamYard’s browser-based studio, multistream to your main social channels, and use links/QR codes or platform donate buttons to collect gifts. If you need advanced, embedded donation widgets (like live progress bars from GoFundMe, Tiltify, or Streamlabs), you can layer those on with OBS or Streamlabs while still using StreamYard for planning and on-air structure.

Summary

• Use StreamYard as your central studio for interviews, panels, and nonprofit updates, then send one stream to multiple platforms at once on paid plans.(StreamYard multistream docs)
• Connect your fundraising tool of choice (GoFundMe, Tiltify, Streamlabs Charity, Facebook donate buttons) and make the donation path visible and repeated on-screen.(American Red Cross Facebook guidance)
• Add simple visuals in StreamYard—logos, overlays, lower-thirds, and timers—to keep the story moving without complex technical setup.
• Turn your fundraiser into a long‑tail asset by recording locally in StreamYard for high-quality clips and replays you can keep promoting.

Why does streaming make fundraisers more effective?

Fundraising is about attention, emotion, and trust. Live video lets you hit all three at once: supporters see real people, in real time, doing real work.

Livestream fundraisers work well for:

• Nonprofits sharing impact stories and Q&A
• Creators raising money for causes they care about
• Schools, clubs, and faith communities running pledge drives or telethon-style events

Many successful live fundraising events run around 30–60 minutes, long enough to tell stories and short enough to keep energy high.(Happy Productions)

Where most teams get stuck is not the “why” but the “how”: juggling tech, guests, donation links, and multiple platforms. That’s where choosing the right studio matters.

Which streaming studio is simplest for a fundraiser (StreamYard vs OBS vs Streamlabs)?

If your goal is to go live quickly, feature guests, and avoid tech headaches, StreamYard is usually the fastest route.

StreamYard (default for most fundraisers)

• Runs entirely in the browser; no downloads for you or your guests.
• Guests join from a link and consistently pass the “grandparent test” for simplicity.
• We handle cloud encoding, so your computer is under less strain than with heavy desktop apps.
• On paid plans, you can multistream to several platforms—like Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitch—from a single upload.(StreamYard multistream docs)

Users who moved from OBS or Streamlabs often say they “prioritize ease of use over complex setups like OBS or StreamLabs” and found those tools “too convoluted” for day-to-day shows.

OBS Studio (for advanced production control)

• Free, open source, and very configurable, with detailed scene and audio controls.(OBS help)
• Requires installation, hardware resources, and more technical setup.
• Does not include built-in donation processing; you’ll rely on third-party tools for that.(OBS donations FAQ)

Streamlabs Desktop (for integrated donation tools)

• Desktop suite built on OBS with overlays, alerts, and monetization features.
• Ultra subscription adds perks like multistreaming and extra apps.(Streamlabs FAQ)
• Includes charity donation-goal widgets you can add to Desktop or even OBS as browser sources.(Streamlabs Charity widget)

For most U.S.-based fundraisers, StreamYard gives you the right balance: a true studio feel, easy guests, multistreaming, and strong recordings—without needing a powerful streaming PC.

How do you plan a livestream fundraiser that actually raises money?

Before touching any software, lock in three things:

1. A clear goal
   How much do you want to raise, and for what specific outcome? (“$10,000 to fund 100 emergency kits” beats “raise more money.”)

2. A strong call to action and donation path
   Decide where donations go:

   • A Facebook fundraiser with a built‑in donate button.
   • A GoFundMe, Tiltify, or Streamlabs Charity campaign.
   • Your own nonprofit donation page.

   The American Red Cross explicitly recommends adding a donate button to Facebook Live so viewers can give directly from the video.(Red Cross Facebook toolkit)

3. A run of show
   Outline 30–60 minutes:

   • Welcome + what you’re raising for
   • Story or interview from someone impacted
   • Live donation push (and shout‑outs)
   • Quick update on progress
   • Final appeal and “what happens next”

StreamYard’s presenter notes, visible only to the host, are perfect for keeping this run of show in front of you without showing it on screen.

How do you set up a fundraiser stream in StreamYard?

Here’s a simple, repeatable setup:

1. Create your StreamYard studio
   Log into StreamYard, create a new broadcast, and pick your main destination (e.g., Facebook Page, YouTube Channel, LinkedIn).StreamYard supports these platforms natively.

2. Add multistream destinations (paid plans)
   When you’re ready to reach more people, select additional platforms so one studio session fan‑outs to several destinations.(How to multistream)

3. Brand your fundraiser

   • Upload your logo and cause-specific overlays (e.g., “Disaster Relief Fundraiser”).
   • Build lower-thirds with the campaign name and link.
   • Use flexible layouts to highlight speakers, screen shares, or impact photos.

4. Prepare your donation visuals
   Since StreamYard doesn’t process donations itself, you’ll make it easy for viewers to act:

   • Show the donation URL in a lower-third.
   • Display a QR code via screen share or image overlay.
   • Pin the link in chat on each platform when possible.

5. Invite guests and co‑hosts
   Copy the guest link and send it to your speakers. Because everything runs in the browser, non‑technical guests can usually join with just a click.

6. Check audio, video, and screen shares
   At StreamYard, we give you independent control of microphone audio, screen audio, and multiple screen shares, so you can play videos, show slides, or demo your nonprofit’s work without losing clarity.

7. Go live and follow your run of show
   Keep the fundraiser moving, repeat the call to action often, and verbally thank donors as they come in.

Behind the scenes, StreamYard records your broadcast in HD (with per-stream time limits on paid plans), so you can repurpose content later.(Paid plan features)

How do you add donation widgets, progress bars, and alerts?

Some campaigns benefit from more visual fundraising elements—live totals, recent donors, or animated alerts.

Here are realistic ways to do that:

1. Platform-native tools

   • On Facebook, start or link a fundraiser and add the donate button to your Live so viewers donate directly on Facebook.(Red Cross Facebook guidance)
   • On YouTube or Twitch, use the platform’s fundraising features if your account qualifies.

2. GoFundMe live fundraising widgets
   GoFundMe offers streaming widgets—a live progress bar, donation alerts, and a QR code to your fundraiser—designed to be used with tools like OBS.(GoFundMe streaming widgets)

3. Tiltify and other charity platforms
   Tiltify is built to tie campaigns directly into livestreams on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, making it easy to support charities such as the American Red Cross while you stream.(Tiltify overview)

4. Streamlabs Charity widgets
   Streamlabs provides a Charity Donation Goal widget you can drop into Streamlabs Desktop or OBS via Browser Source so viewers see live progress.(Streamlabs Charity widget)

If you want deep widget integration and are comfortable with desktop apps, you can:

• Run OBS or Streamlabs as your encoder with those widgets, or
• Combine them with StreamYard by capturing a browser or widget view and bringing it into your StreamYard studio via screen share.

For most small and mid-sized fundraisers, clear overlays, links, and frequent on-air reminders in StreamYard will move the needle more than intricate widget setups.

How do you keep donors engaged during the stream?

Think of your livestream as a mini show, not just a video call. A simple example schedule:

• 0–5 minutes – Warm welcome, purpose, and goal
• 5–15 minutes – Story from someone directly impacted
• 15–25 minutes – Live Q&A from chat, read donor messages
• 25–35 minutes – Behind-the-scenes tour, volunteer spotlight, or demo
• Last 10 minutes – Final push, recap of impact, and very clear “here’s how to give right now”

StreamYard’s multi-participant layouts let you smoothly move between solo host shots, side‑by‑side interviews, screen shares, and full-screen video without needing a technical director.

Because we support both landscape and portrait outputs from a single session through Multi-Aspect Ratio Streaming (MARS), you can reach desktop viewers on platforms like YouTube with landscape while mobile audiences see an optimized vertical view at the same time.(MARS docs)

After the event, your local multi‑track recordings in StreamYard (including studio-quality remote recording at up to 4K UHD for participants) let you edit highlight clips, donor thank‑you videos, and future campaign promos without needing everyone to re-record.

What we recommend

• Use StreamYard as your primary studio for fundraiser streams, especially when you have multiple remote guests, need multistreaming, and value reliability over fine-grained technical control.
• Lean on simple, clear donation paths—platform donate buttons, a single URL, and QR codes—repeated often on-screen and in chat.
• Add advanced widgets from tools like GoFundMe, Tiltify, or Streamlabs only when they directly support your goals and you’re comfortable with the extra setup.
• Record everything in StreamYard and repurpose the content into short clips, updates, and evergreen stories that keep your cause funded long after the live event ends.