ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a small nonprofit, OBS Studio + Streamlabs widgets is likely the most cost-effective setup: OBS is free, while Streamlabs provides donation alerts, goal bars, and other overlays. OBS Studio Streamlabs

• OBS Studio: free broadcasting software.
• Streamlabs: free donation/goal widgets; it says it takes no cut of tips beyond payment-processing fees. Streamlabs
• Fundraising overlay: Streamlabs Charity can display real-time donation goals inside OBS. support.streamlabs.com
• Alternative: Streamlabs Desktop bundles streaming and widgets into one interface, also with a free tier. Streamlabs

My practical choice: OBS Studio + Streamlabs, especially if keeping recurring software costs near $0 is important.

For a small nonprofit, I’d look at OBS Studio + Streamlabs first. It gives you a very low-cost setup while still supporting the donation-focused overlays you need.

1. OBS Studio + Streamlabs — strongest budget setup

OBS Studio is free and gives you full control over scenes, cameras, graphics, prerecorded videos, and browser-based overlays.

You can then use streamlabs.com for donation alerts. Streamlabs says the Alert Box is free and can display customizable tip/donation alerts. Streamlabs Streamlabs

For fundraising specifically, Streamlabs also provides Donation Goal widgets that show fundraising progress on-screen and can be added to OBS as a browser source. Streamlabs Streamlabs

If you're fundraising for your own nonprofit, rather than simply raising money for another charity, you can also investigate Streamlabs' regular tipping/donation system. If you're fundraising for a participating registered charity, Streamlabs Charity says it charges 0% to the charity/streamer for charitable donations, with funds going directly to the charity. Streamlabs Charity

2. Streamlabs Desktop — easier for a small team

streamlabs.com is essentially an easier-to-configure streaming environment built around OBS technology. Its free offering includes streaming software, widgets, overlay themes, alerts, and a tip page. Streamlabs

For a nonprofit with volunteers who aren't particularly technical, this can be attractive because donation alerts, goals, scenes, and overlays are more integrated rather than having to assemble everything yourself.

3. StreamYard — easier production, higher cost

streamyard.com is particularly convenient if your fundraising streams are mostly interviews, panels, guest speakers, and presentations. Its paid Core plan currently includes 1080p, overlays, logos, multistreaming to three destinations, and a chat overlay. StreamYard StreamYard Help Center

StreamYard also currently offers nonprofits a 10% discount on monthly and annual plans, subject to verification. StreamYard Help Center

The tradeoff is that StreamYard isn't as donation-centric as the OBS + Streamlabs combination.

What I'd build

For a small nonprofit, a practical setup would be:

OBS Studio → Streamlabs donation alerts/goals → YouTube/Facebook/etc.

That can give you:

• A live "$12,450 / $20,000 raised" progress bar
• Pop-up donation notifications
• Donor name + amount on screen
• Custom nonprofit branding
• Multiple scenes ("Starting Soon," live interview, donation appeal, closing)
• No monthly streaming-software bill

If your broadcasts are primarily Zoom-style conversations with multiple remote guests, I'd lean toward StreamYard instead. If they're more like produced fundraising shows with graphics, videos, cameras, and donation targets, OBS + Streamlabs is the more economical architecture.

OBS Studio is free and gives you full control over scenes, cameras, graphics, prerecorded videos, and browser-based overlays.

You can then use streamlabs.com for donation alerts. Streamlabs says the Alert Box is free and can display customizable tip/donation alerts. Streamlabs Streamlabs

For fundraising specifically, Streamlabs also provides Donation Goal widgets that show fundraising progress on-screen and can be added to OBS as a browser source. Streamlabs Streamlabs

If you're fundraising for your own nonprofit, rather than simply raising money for another charity, you can also investigate Streamlabs' regular tipping/donation system. If you're fundraising for a participating registered charity, Streamlabs Charity says it charges 0% to the charity/streamer for charitable donations, with funds going directly to the charity. Streamlabs Charity

2. Streamlabs Desktop — easier for a small team

streamlabs.com is essentially an easier-to-configure streaming environment built around OBS technology. Its free offering includes streaming software, widgets, overlay themes, alerts, and a tip page. Streamlabs

For a nonprofit with volunteers who aren't particularly technical, this can be attractive because donation alerts, goals, scenes, and overlays are more integrated rather than having to assemble everything yourself.

3. StreamYard — easier production, higher cost

streamyard.com is particularly convenient if your fundraising streams are mostly interviews, panels, guest speakers, and presentations. Its paid Core plan currently includes 1080p, overlays, logos, multistreaming to three destinations, and a chat overlay. streamyard.com support.streamyard.com

StreamYard also currently offers nonprofits a 10% discount on monthly and annual plans, subject to verification. support.streamyard.com

The tradeoff is that StreamYard isn't as donation-centric as the OBS + Streamlabs combination.

What I'd build

For a small nonprofit, a practical setup would be:

OBS Studio → Streamlabs donation alerts/goals → YouTube/Facebook/etc.

That can give you:

For a small nonprofit, I’d focus on a setup that separates broadcast production (camera, audio, scenes, overlays) from fundraising (donation processing, receipts, goals). The most cost-effective options are usually low-cost or free broadcast tools paired with a nonprofit fundraising platform. Unstore StreamYard

Best-value setups

My recommendation for a small nonprofit

Option 1: Lowest cost, professional-looking

OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity

• Software cost: $0
• Add: - Donation goal bar
• Recent donor ticker
• Donation alerts
• Sponsor/partner graphics
• Lower-thirds for speakers
• Works well for YouTube Live, Twitch, and Facebook Live. Streamlabs Charity

This is probably the best choice if you have one volunteer comfortable learning the setup.

Option 2: Easiest for a volunteer team

Streamlabs Desktop + Streamlabs Charity

Better if different people will run streams and you want fewer technical steps. It provides templates and widgets so volunteers can assemble scenes faster. Streamlabs

Option 3: Interview-style fundraising shows

StreamYard + a donation platform

Good for:

• CEO/board member interviews
• Donor thank-you events
• Panels with guests joining remotely

It is simpler than OBS, but you trade away some advanced production control. StreamYard

Features I’d prioritize for fundraising streams

Look for:

• ✅ Live donation thermometer
• ✅ Automated donor thank-you alerts
• ✅ QR code donation link on screen
• ✅ Sponsor logo rotation
• ✅ Multiple presenters/remote guests
• ✅ Recording available afterward
• ✅ Easy handoff between volunteers

A practical nonprofit stack could be:

• Broadcast: OBS Studio (free)
• Fundraising: Streamlabs Charity or Tiltify
• Streaming destinations: YouTube Live + Facebook Live
• Graphics: Canva overlays exported as images/videos
• Audio: invest in microphones before upgrading cameras

If you tell me your typical livestream format (concert, telethon, interviews, church/community events, gaming-style fundraiser, etc.), number of volunteers, and platforms you stream to, I can suggest a more specific setup.

It is simpler than OBS, but you trade away some advanced production control.

Features I’d prioritize for fundraising streams

Look for:

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize low/no software cost, easy donation overlays, and minimal technical overhead.

Best options

🥇 My pick: OBS Studio + Streamlabs

OBS Studio is free and open-source. It doesn't process donations itself, but it supports browser-based donation/alert overlays from services such as Streamlabs. OBS Studio OBS Studio

obsproject.com

Then pair it with streamlabs.com for:

• Donation/tip alerts
• On-screen donation goals
• Recent-donation lists
• Custom branded overlays
• Tip pages
• Recurring monthly tips

Streamlabs says its tipping system takes 0% of tips, with normal payment-processing fees still applying. Its Alert Box and standard widgets are also free. Streamlabs Streamlabs

For an actual charitable fundraising campaign, Streamlabs Charity is particularly interesting: Streamlabs says it charges charities no annual fees and 0% transaction fees. Streamlabs It also has a dedicated donation-goal overlay that can be displayed in either Streamlabs Desktop or OBS. Streamlabs

🥈 Easiest: Streamlabs Desktop

streamlabs.com

If your volunteers aren't particularly technical, I'd consider this instead of vanilla OBS. Donation alerts, goals, chat, and other widgets are more tightly integrated, and the standard Alert Box is free. Streamlabs Streamlabs

The tradeoff is that Streamlabs pushes paid upgrades for additional themes and features, whereas OBS itself is completely free.

What I'd use for your nonprofit

OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity would be my starting configuration:

Camera/mics → OBS → YouTube/Twitch/Facebook
↳ Donation goal overlay
↳ "Jane donated $50!" alert
↳ Running total / progress bar

You can add these overlays to OBS as browser sources without installing complicated plugins. OBS Studio OBS Studio

If you tell me which platform you broadcast on (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.) and whether donations go directly to your nonprofit or through a fundraising platform like Givebutter/Tiltify, I can recommend the cheapest setup and the exact overlay stack.

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize free/low-cost software + donation overlays that don’t require a paid subscription.

Best options

1. OBS Studio + StreamElements — my pick for a nonprofit

obsproject.com is free and open source. OBS itself doesn't process donations, but it supports donation alerts through third-party providers and browser sources. OBS Studio

streamelements.com provides free overlays, alerts, widgets, and customizable donation/tip alerts. Its overlay system works by adding a browser source to OBS, and its current documentation says the customizable alerts/widgets are free. StreamElements Docs StreamElements

This is the route I'd choose if keeping recurring costs close to $0 is important.

2. OBS Studio + Streamlabs — easiest donation experience

Streamlabs offers free streaming software, a free tip page, free Alert Box, goals, event lists, and other widgets. Streamlabs Streamlabs Its charity tooling can also connect a charity campaign to on-screen donation alerts. Streamlabs

The advantage is convenience: your fundraising team can get donation alerts, goals, and overlays without assembling as many separate pieces.

The paid Streamlabs Ultra tier is optional, currently listed at $27/month or $189/year, so I wouldn't pay for it unless you actually need its premium assets/features. Streamlabs

What I'd use for your organization

OBS Studio + StreamElements if you're comfortable with a little setup.

You can have:

• A persistent "Raised: $X / $Y" fundraising goal
• Animated new donation alerts
• A scrolling recent donors ticker
• Your nonprofit logo/colors
• QR code or donation URL on screen
• "Donate" call-to-action panels
• Webcam + presentation/video + slides
• Multiple scenes such as Starting Soon → Live Fundraising → Thank You

StreamElements specifically supports custom widgets that can react to tip events, so you can build fairly sophisticated fundraising overlays without paying for a premium streaming package. StreamElements Docs

One important distinction: the streaming software doesn't determine where the money goes. OBS explicitly notes that it doesn't process donations itself; you'll need a donation/fundraising platform connected to your overlays. OBS Studio

If you tell me whether you're primarily streaming to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, or multiple platforms, and what donation system you currently use (PayPal, Donorbox, Givebutter, Tiltify, etc.), I can recommend the cheapest specific setup and explain exactly how I'd wire the donation goal and alerts into OBS.

This is the route I'd choose if keeping recurring costs close to $0 is important.

2. OBS Studio + Streamlabs — easiest donation experience

Streamlabs offers free streaming software, a free tip page, free Alert Box, goals, event lists, and other widgets. streamlabs.com streamlabs.com Its charity tooling can also connect a charity campaign to on-screen donation alerts. support.streamlabs.com

The advantage is convenience: your fundraising team can get donation alerts, goals, and overlays without assembling as many separate pieces.

The paid Streamlabs Ultra tier is optional, currently listed at $27/month or $189/year, so I wouldn't pay for it unless you actually need its premium assets/features.

What I'd use for your organization

OBS Studio + StreamElements if you're comfortable with a little setup.

You can have:

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize low software cost + easy donation overlays + minimal setup. The best fit is usually OBS Studio + Streamlabs.

Best options

• obsproject.com + streamlabs.com — best value

• OBS is free and open-source.
• Streamlabs provides donation/tip alerts, donation goals, event lists, and other overlays. Its basic Alert Box is free. Streamlabs Restream Help Center
• You can add Streamlabs donation goals directly to OBS as a Browser Source. Streamlabs Support Streamlabs
• Streamlabs says it doesn't take a cut of tips, although normal payment-processing fees can apply. Streamlabs
• My pick if you have someone comfortable operating the stream.
• streamlabs.com — easiest all-in-one

• Free version combines streaming, scenes, overlays, alerts, and donation/charity notifications.
• Particularly convenient if volunteers with limited streaming experience will be running broadcasts. Streamlabs
• Streamlabs also has a dedicated charity platform with 0% transaction fees for charities according to its current documentation. Streamlabs Support
• My pick if ease of use matters more than maximum flexibility.
• restream.io — worth considering for multistreaming

• Free tier supports streaming to two channels simultaneously, but has Restream branding. Restream
• Its Studio includes scenes, overlays, QR codes, and scrolling tickers, so you could put a donation URL/QR code prominently on screen. Restream Restream Help Center
• Better if your main goal is broadcasting to YouTube + Facebook + another platform without managing multiple outputs yourself.

What I'd build for a nonprofit

OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity would give you a very inexpensive setup:

Cameras/mics → OBS → YouTube/Facebook/etc.
↳ donation goal + recent donor + donation alert overlays

For a fundraising livestream, I'd put three things on screen:

1. Live fundraising total / goal
2. Recent donor alert
3. QR code + short donation URL

Streamlabs specifically supports charity donation goals as real-time overlays and donation alerts. Streamlabs Support Streamlabs Support

Bottom line: If you're trying to keep recurring software costs near $0, I'd start with OBS + Streamlabs, rather than paying for a full production platform. If you tell me where you broadcast (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.) and whether you need one or multiple destinations, I can recommend the cheapest exact setup and donation stack.

For a small nonprofit, I’d optimize for low software cost + reliable donation alerts, rather than paying for a full broadcast suite.

My picks

• Best overall value: OBS Studio + Streamlabs

• OBS Studio is free and open source.
• Add Streamlabs' free Alert Box as a browser source for donation pop-ups, goals, tip tickers, etc. OBS specifically supports this workflow. OBS Studio OBS Studio
• Streamlabs says it takes 0% of tips, though payment processors can still charge their normal fees. Streamlabs
• Streamlabs also has a charity-specific setup with donation alerts, so this is particularly well suited to fundraising streams. Streamlabs
• Cost: potentially $0/month.
• Best if you want simplicity: Streamlabs Desktop

• It combines the streaming software, alerts, donation/tip tracking, goals, chat, and other widgets in one application. Streamlabs
• The standard Alert Box and basic widgets are free. Streamlabs Streamlabs
• Cost: potentially $0/month; paid upgrades are optional.
• Best for professional-looking interviews/panels: StreamYard

• Much easier for nontechnical volunteers: browser-based, guests can join without installing OBS, and paid plans provide overlays and multistreaming.
• However, its Core plan is currently about $45/month monthly ($36/month when billed annually), so it's considerably less cost-effective for a small nonprofit if you don't need the convenience. StreamYard
• StreamYard itself recommends OBS/Streamlabs when you need more advanced embedded fundraising widgets. StreamYard

What I'd use for your nonprofit

OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity is probably the sweet spot:

Camera/mics → OBS Studio → YouTube/Facebook/etc.
↳ donation goal + donor alerts + progress bar

You can put a live fundraising total, goal/progress bar, donor name/amount, and “Donate” call-to-action directly over the video without paying for streaming software. Streamlabs Charity says its charity platform charges 0% transaction fees and no annual fees for charities. Streamlabs

If your team is nontechnical and does lots of guest interviews, I'd lean toward StreamYard despite the cost. If someone on your team can spend an hour learning OBS, OBS + Streamlabs is the much better budget choice.

obsproject.com
streamlabscharity.com
streamyard.com

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize low/no software cost, donation-goal overlays, and the ability to keep the money flow transparent.

My top picks

1. OBS Studio + StreamElements — my recommendation

obsproject.com is free and open-source, and its Browser Source lets you place web-based donation alerts, goals, graphics, and other widgets directly into your scenes. OBS Studio OBS Studio

streamelements.com provides free customizable alerts and widgets, including donation/tip alerts and charity-oriented overlays. Its SE.Live plugin also adds multistreaming and other production features without a subscription. StreamElements StreamElements

Why I'd choose it: essentially $0 in software fees, very flexible branding, and you're not locked into a particular streaming application.

2. OBS Studio + Streamlabs — easiest fundraising setup

streamlabs.com has free alerts, donation/tip pages, and goal widgets. Its charity integration can connect donations to on-screen alerts, while the Charity Donation Goal widget displays fundraising progress in real time. Streamlabs Streamlabs

This is probably the easiest choice if your volunteers aren't technically inclined: set up the campaign and widgets in Streamlabs, then add them to OBS as browser sources.

3. Streamlabs Desktop — simplest all-in-one

If you don't want volunteers juggling OBS plus separate services, Streamlabs Desktop packages streaming, alerts, widgets, and tipping into one application. Streamlabs currently describes the basic software and its core widgets/tip page as free. Streamlabs

What I'd use for a nonprofit

OBS Studio + StreamElements if you have someone reasonably technical managing the stream.

Streamlabs Desktop/Streamlabs Charity if ease of setup for rotating volunteers is more important.

One important distinction: the streaming software itself generally doesn't process the donation. OBS explicitly says it doesn't provide donation processing; a third-party donation/fundraising provider handles that, while OBS displays the resulting alert through a browser source. OBS Studio

For a nonprofit, I'd also consider using a dedicated charitable-fundraising platform where appropriate rather than presenting ordinary "tips" as charitable donations. StreamElements specifically notes that Twitch's Charity tool can send contributions directly to charities and reduce confusion/legal complexity. StreamElements

If you tell me which platforms you're broadcasting to (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.) and whether donors need tax-deductible receipts, I can recommend the cheapest complete setup—including the donation processor, overlays, and streaming software.

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize low/no software cost + easy donation alerts + minimal technical overhead. My shortlist:

🥇 My pick: Streamlabs Desktop

streamlabs.com is probably the best fit if fundraising is central to your broadcasts.

• The desktop software has a free tier.
• Its built-in Alert Box can display donation/tip alerts on screen.
• It has donation goals, tip tickers, event lists and other widgets suitable for showing fundraising progress.
• Streamlabs says it takes 0% of tips, although normal payment-processing fees still apply. Streamlabs Streamlabs
• It also supports dedicated charity-donation alerts, so donations can automatically trigger an on-screen notification. Streamlabs

For a nonprofit, I'd start with the free version rather than paying for Ultra. The free tier already covers the core streaming and donation-overlay functionality. Streamlabs

🥈 OBS Studio + donation service

obsproject.com is free and open source and gives you considerably more control over scenes, cameras, graphics and audio.

The catch is that OBS itself doesn't process donations. You connect a third-party donation/alert provider and add its overlay as a browser source. OBS Studio

This is the route I'd choose if you have someone technically comfortable running the broadcast and want to keep recurring software expenses essentially at $0.

🥉 StreamYard

streamyard.com is much easier for volunteer hosts and guests because it's browser-based. Its current free plan exists, but branded overlays and other useful production features are on paid tiers; the Core plan currently lists at $44.99/month or $35.99/month annually. StreamYard

For charity broadcasts, StreamYard itself recommends pairing the studio with a fundraising platform such as Streamlabs Charity or Tiltify. StreamYard

What I'd actually build

For your situation, I'd use:

Streamlabs Desktop → YouTube/Facebook → Streamlabs donation/charity integration → donation alert + fundraising goal overlay

That gives you a live screen such as:

GOAL: $10,000
███████████░░░ $7,450
Latest donation: Jane — $100 ❤️

without paying for a separate graphics/overlay service.

If you tell me which platform you broadcast on (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.) and whether donations go directly to your nonprofit or through something like PayPal/Tiltify, I can recommend the cheapest specific setup and explain exactly how to configure the donation overlay.

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize low software cost + reliable donation alerts/goals + easy setup. My shortlist:

🥇 Best value: OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity

OBS Studio itself is free and doesn't process donations, but it can display donation alerts and goals from third-party services as browser sources. OBS Studio

For a nonprofit, pair it with Streamlabs Charity. Their charity platform currently advertises 0% platform fees, no annual fees, and 100% of fundraising proceeds going to the charity. Streamlabs Charity

You can put a live donation goal/progress bar, donation alerts, and other widgets directly over your OBS broadcast. Streamlabs specifically documents its Charity Donation Goal widget for OBS. Streamlabs Streamlabs

streamlabscharity.com

🥈 Easiest: Streamlabs Desktop

If your volunteers aren't particularly technical, Streamlabs Desktop is probably easier than building an OBS setup from scratch. It has built-in goal widgets, alerts and overlay customization, and its widgets can also be used with OBS if you later change production software. Streamlabs

One important distinction: Streamlabs Charity is specifically designed for charitable fundraising, whereas ordinary Streamlabs tipping is more oriented toward creators. For a nonprofit fundraiser, I'd use the Charity system where applicable.

🥉 Best for interview/panel-style broadcasts: StreamYard

StreamYard is much simpler for hosts and guests—particularly if you're doing fundraising interviews, town halls, or panels rather than elaborate productions.

Its paid plans include custom overlays, multistreaming and chat overlays. Current pricing shows a free tier and a Core plan at $44.99/month monthly ($35.99/month annual), and StreamYard says nonprofits can get 10% off with verification. StreamYard StreamYard Help Center

streamyard.com

My recommendation

For a small nonprofit trying to keep costs down, I'd build this stack:

OBS Studio → Streamlabs Charity → YouTube/Facebook/Twitch

That gives you professional-looking scenes, live donation alerts and fundraising goals, and essentially $0/month in streaming software costs. Streamlabs Charity Streamlabs

If you tell me where you broadcast (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, or multiple platforms) and roughly how many people operate the stream, I can recommend the cheapest specific setup and explain exactly how I'd configure the donation overlay.

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize low/no software cost, easy donation overlays, and minimal technical overhead.

My picks

🥇 Best value: OBS Studio + Streamlabs

OBS Studio is completely free and open-source, and you can add donation goals, alerts, and other overlays as browser sources. Streamlabs specifically provides a charity donation-goal widget that works with OBS. Streamlabs Unstore

This is what I'd choose if your nonprofit has someone willing to spend an hour learning the setup. You get excellent control without committing to a monthly subscription.

obsproject.com

🥈 Easiest: Streamlabs Desktop

If your volunteers aren't particularly technical, Streamlabs Desktop is probably the easiest route. Its free version includes streaming software, widgets, overlays, alerts, and a tip page; Streamlabs says it doesn't take a cut of tips, although payment processors can still charge their fees. Streamlabs

Its Alert Box can display donation/tip notifications and customized messages, while goal widgets can show fundraising progress directly on the stream. Streamlabs Streamlabs

streamlabs.com

🥉 If you want to broadcast everywhere: OBS + SE.Live

StreamElements SE.Live is particularly interesting for a nonprofit because it currently advertises free multistreaming to as many platforms as you want. It integrates with OBS and provides activity feeds, chat, tips, and other streaming features. StreamElements

streamelements.com

What I'd actually build

For a small fundraising operation, I'd use:

OBS Studio → Streamlabs/StreamElements donation widget → YouTube + Facebook/etc.

That keeps your core broadcasting software at $0/month, while still letting you put things like:

• 💰 Live fundraising total
• 🎯 "$7,500 of $10,000 goal" progress bar
• 🙏 "Jane donated $50" alerts
• 📣 Donation URL/QR code
• 🏆 Recent donors
• ⏱️ Countdown/goal milestones

on screen.

If you're doing frequent events with multiple hosts/guests, I'd consider StreamYard instead. It is more expensive, but its browser-based workflow can be considerably easier for volunteers, and it offers a nonprofit discount. StreamYard

Bottom line: For maximum fundraising dollars retained, I'd start with OBS Studio + free Streamlabs widgets. For maximum simplicity, choose Streamlabs Desktop. If multistreaming is important, look closely at SE.Live.

obsproject.com

🥈 Easiest: Streamlabs Desktop

If your volunteers aren't particularly technical, Streamlabs Desktop is probably the easiest route. Its free version includes streaming software, widgets, overlays, alerts, and a tip page; Streamlabs says it doesn't take a cut of tips, although payment processors can still charge their fees. Streamlabs

Its Alert Box can display donation/tip notifications and customized messages, while goal widgets can show fundraising progress directly on the stream. Streamlabs Streamlabs

streamlabs.com

🥉 If you want to broadcast everywhere: OBS + SE.Live

StreamElements SE.Live is particularly interesting for a nonprofit because it currently advertises free multistreaming to as many platforms as you want. It integrates with OBS and provides activity feeds, chat, tips, and other streaming features.

For a small nonprofit, I’d optimize for low software cost + reliable donation integration, rather than paying for a full broadcast suite.

My top picks

1. OBS Studio + StreamElements — my default recommendation.
OBS is free, while StreamElements provides free customizable alerts, goals and other widgets. Its overlay system can display donation/tip information through a browser source, and StreamElements says it takes no cut of tips itself; payment processors may still charge their normal fees. StreamElements Docs StreamElements

streamelements.com

2. OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity — best if you're collecting donations specifically for your nonprofit.
Streamlabs says its Charity platform charges charities 0% transaction fees and no annual fees, and it has dedicated donation alerts and real-time donation-goal widgets that work with OBS. Streamlabs Streamlabs Streamlabs

streamlabscharity.com

3. Streamlabs Desktop — easiest for a rotating volunteer crew.
It bundles the broadcast software, overlays and Streamlabs' donation ecosystem into one interface. That convenience can be worthwhile if volunteers aren't comfortable configuring OBS. Streamlabs also documents adding its overlays to either Streamlabs Desktop or OBS. Streamlabs

streamlabs.com

What I'd choose for your nonprofit

I'd probably build the stack as:

OBS Studio → Streamlabs Charity (donations) → donation goal + donor alerts → YouTube/Facebook/Twitch

That gives you a professional-looking fundraising stream without committing to a monthly broadcast-software subscription. If you also want multistreaming, StreamElements' SE.Live plugin is particularly interesting because it currently advertises unlimited multistreaming for free. StreamElements

One important distinction: the streaming software doesn't actually need to process the donations. You can keep your fundraising/payment platform separate and simply bring its donation goal/alerts into OBS as an overlay. That gives you much more flexibility.

If you tell me which platforms you stream to (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.), whether donations go through your own nonprofit website or a platform like Givebutter/Tiltify/Streamlabs Charity, and roughly how many livestreams you do per month, I can recommend the cheapest setup and lay out exactly how I'd configure it.

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize free/low-cost software + donation overlays, rather than paying for a full production suite.

Best options

My pick for you: Streamlabs Desktop + Streamlabs Charity. Streamlabs' free tier includes streaming software, widgets, alerts, overlay themes, and a tip page. Its charity platform says it charges 0% platform fees and has no annual/monthly fees for charitable fundraising. Streamlabs Streamlabs Charity

It also has dedicated Charity Donation Goal overlays that can show fundraising progress live. Those can be added directly in Streamlabs Desktop or, if you prefer OBS, as a Browser Source. Streamlabs Streamlabs

If you want maximum control

OBS Studio + Streamlabs/StreamElements overlays is probably the cheapest long-term setup. OBS itself doesn't process donations, but it supports donation alerts and overlays through third-party providers via Browser Sources. OBS Studio

StreamElements is particularly attractive if you're running broadcasts to multiple platforms: its SE.Live OBS plugin currently advertises free unlimited multistreaming, plus unified chat and activity feeds. StreamElements Its overlay system supports goals, alerts, labels and custom widgets through a single browser source. StreamElements Docs

Bottom line:

• Least technical: Streamlabs Desktop + Streamlabs Charity
• Most flexible: OBS Studio + Streamlabs/StreamElements
• Best for multistreaming on a tiny budget: OBS/SE.Live + StreamElements

If you tell me whether you're broadcasting to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, or several at once, I can recommend a specific $0/month setup and the donation/goal overlay configuration I'd use.

My pick for you: Streamlabs Desktop + Streamlabs Charity. Streamlabs' free tier includes streaming software, widgets, alerts, overlay themes, and a tip page. Its charity platform says it charges 0% platform fees and has no annual/monthly fees for charitable fundraising. streamlabs.com streamlabscharity.com

It also has dedicated Charity Donation Goal overlays that can show fundraising progress live. Those can be added directly in Streamlabs Desktop or, if you prefer OBS, as a Browser Source. streamlabs.com streamlabs.com

If you want maximum control

OBS Studio + Streamlabs/StreamElements overlays is probably the cheapest long-term setup. OBS itself doesn't process donations, but it supports donation alerts and overlays through third-party providers via Browser Sources. obsproject.com

StreamElements is particularly attractive if you're running broadcasts to multiple platforms: its SE.Live OBS plugin currently advertises free unlimited multistreaming, plus unified chat and activity feeds. Its overlay system supports goals, alerts, labels and custom widgets through a single browser source.

Bottom line:

For a small nonprofit running fundraising livestreams, I’d prioritize low cost, reliable donation tracking, easy volunteer operation, and good on-screen fundraising visuals. The best value is usually a combination of broadcast software + donation platform, rather than paying for an all-in-one system.

Here are the strongest options:

Streamlabs StreamYard## My recommended nonprofit setup

Option 1: Lowest-cost professional setup (my top pick)

OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity (or another fundraising platform)

• OBS handles:

• Cameras
• Graphics
• Lower-thirds
• Video clips
• Scene switching
• Donation goal overlays
• Streamlabs Charity provides:

• Donation campaigns
• Real-time fundraising totals
• Donation goal widgets
• Alerts that can appear on your stream

Streamlabs Charity says it does not charge platform fees on donations and provides charity fundraising tools, though payment processing and eligibility details should still be reviewed for your situation. Streamlabs Charity

This setup can be run for essentially $0/month if you already have computers, cameras, and internet.

Option 2: Easiest for volunteers

Streamlabs Desktop

Good if your operators are not broadcast professionals. It includes:

• Donation alerts
• Tip pages
• Goal widgets
• Overlay themes
• Chat widgets

The free version includes many core streaming tools and widgets; paid tiers add extras such as expanded customization and multistreaming. Streamlabs Streamlabs

Option 3: Interview/fundraising events with guests

StreamYard

Better if your livestream is mostly:

• Host + guest interviews
• Donor thank-you segments
• Community panels
• Remote speakers

It is simpler than OBS but gives you less control over complex productions. Some nonprofit-focused plans/discounts may be available depending on eligibility. StreamYard

Donation overlay features to look for

For fundraising streams, I’d make sure you have:

• ✅ Live donation ticker (“Jane donated $100!”)
• ✅ Fundraising thermometer/progress bar
• ✅ Milestone alerts (“$10,000 raised!”)
• ✅ Donor name/message moderation
• ✅ Multiple payment methods
• ✅ Exportable donor reports
• ✅ Ability to pause or approve messages before displaying them

A practical nonprofit production stack

Budget setup:

• OBS Studio — $0
• Streamlabs Charity or similar — $0 platform fee options
• Canva for graphics — free tier
• YouTube Live/Facebook Live — free

Small upgrade setup:

• OBS Studio
• Dedicated streaming laptop
• USB/XLR microphones
• HDMI capture card
• Volunteer run-of-show document

For a small nonprofit, I would generally avoid paying $50–200/month for a broadcast platform unless you are doing frequent events. A well-configured OBS setup can look very professional without subscription costs. Restream Help Center

If you tell me:

1. how many livestreams you run per year,
2. whether you stream to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, or a website, and
3. whether you have one operator or multiple volunteers,

I can suggest a specific setup and workflow.

For a small non-profit running fundraising livestreams, I’d usually avoid paying for a full “broadcast suite” unless you have a large production team. A cost-effective setup is often free streaming software + a donation platform that provides overlays. StreamYard

Here are the strongest options:

Restream Help Center## My recommendation for a small nonprofit

Option 1: Lowest cost / most professional

OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity or Tiltify

• OBS Studio handles cameras, graphics, lower thirds, sponsor slides, prerecorded videos, and scene switching.
• A donation platform provides: - live donation totals
• fundraising thermometers
• donor alerts
• goal milestones
• donation links/QR codes

OBS can display these as browser-source overlays. Streamlabs

Streamlabs Charity is particularly attractive for nonprofits because it advertises no platform fees for charities (payment processing may still apply). Streamlabs Charity

Option 2: Easiest for volunteers

Streamlabs Desktop

Good if your team members are not broadcast engineers. It includes ready-made alerts and goal widgets, reducing setup time. Streamlabs

Tradeoff: it gives you less control than a carefully built OBS setup.

Option 3: Interview-style fundraising events

StreamYard + donation platform

Good for:

• executive interviews
• donor conversations
• panels
• guest speakers joining remotely

It is simpler because guests can join from a browser. You may still want a fundraising platform for the actual donation tracking. StreamYard

A practical nonprofit stack I’d choose

For a recurring fundraising broadcast:

• Broadcast: OBS Studio (free)
• Fundraising: Streamlabs Charity or Tiltify
• Graphics: Canva or your existing design tools
• Distribution: YouTube Live + Facebook Live + Twitch (if relevant)
• Hardware: one reliable computer, USB audio interface/mic, and a capture device if using multiple cameras

Typical software cost: $0/month if you keep the workflow simple. Unstore Streamlabs Charity

A few questions would change the recommendation:

1. Are you fundraising for your own nonprofit or raising money for other charities?
2. Do you need multiple hosts/guests remotely?
3. Are you streaming mainly to YouTube/Facebook, or also Twitch?
4. How many people operate the livestream (one volunteer vs. a production team)?

StreamYard + donation platform

Good for:

For a small nonprofit, I’d usually avoid paying for a full broadcast suite unless you need TV-style production. A cost-effective setup is often free broadcast software + a dedicated fundraising platform that supplies donation overlays. StreamYard

Best options

Streamlabs OBS Versions## My recommendation for a small nonprofit

Option 1: Lowest-cost professional setup (my top pick)

• OBS Studio for the actual broadcast
• Streamlabs Charity or Tiltify for fundraising
• Add the donation goal/alert widget into OBS as a browser source

This gives you:

• Donation totals on screen
• Donor alerts
• Custom branding
• Multiple scenes (host, interviews, videos, sponsor slides)
• No monthly streaming software cost

Streamlabs Charity provides charity-focused donation widgets and states that it charges no platform fees to charities (payment processing may still apply). Streamlabs Streamlabs Charity

Option 2: Easiest for volunteers

Use:

• Streamlabs Desktop
• Streamlabs Charity or Tiltify

This is simpler because alerts and overlays are more integrated, but it can use more computer resources than plain OBS. OBS Versions

Option 3: If you do lots of interviews

Use:

• StreamYard as the host studio
• A fundraising platform for donation tracking

This works well when you have board members, donors, speakers, or beneficiaries joining remotely because guests can join from a browser. StreamYard

A practical nonprofit setup under $0/month

• Laptop with a decent webcam
• USB microphone
• OBS Studio
• YouTube Live or Facebook Live
• Streamlabs Charity/Tiltify donation page
• Donation goal overlay
• QR code on screen linking to donations

The main thing I’d spend money on is audio, not streaming software. A clean microphone and reliable internet usually improve fundraising streams more than expensive production tools.

If you tell me:

1. which platforms you stream to (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.),
2. whether you need multiple remote guests, and
3. your approximate audience size,

I can suggest a more specific setup.

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize low/no software cost, reliable donation tracking, and simple overlays rather than paying for an all-in-one broadcast suite.

My top choices

1. OBS Studio + StreamElements — my recommendation.
OBS itself is free, and StreamElements provides free customizable overlays, alerts, goals and widgets. Its overlay system works through a browser source, so you can put donation alerts and fundraising progress directly over your video. StreamElements Documentation StreamElements

StreamElements also has specific Twitch Charity Donation alert boxes, which could be particularly useful if you're using Twitch's charity infrastructure. StreamElements

2. Streamlabs Desktop — easiest for volunteers.
If different volunteers will be producing your broadcasts, Streamlabs may be worth considering because donation/tipping, alerts, goals and other widgets are integrated into one interface. Streamlabs says its tipping system doesn't take a cut of tips, though payment processors can still charge their normal fees. Streamlabs

It also supports donation/charity goal widgets that can be added to OBS as browser sources. Streamlabs Streamlabs

What I'd choose for a nonprofit

I'd build the setup around:

OBS Studio → StreamElements overlays → your donation platform

That gives you a professional-looking broadcast without a recurring streaming-software subscription. You can have:

• 💰 Live fundraising total
• 🎯 Progress toward the campaign goal
• 🙏 "Thank you, Jane, for your $50 donation!" alerts
• 📊 Recent donors / donation ticker
• 🖼️ Your nonprofit's logo and colors
• 🔗 A persistent "Donate" call-to-action

One important consideration: keep the actual donations on a dedicated charity/fundraising platform rather than routing money through the streaming software whenever possible. StreamElements specifically notes that charity tools can reduce confusion around where money goes and simplify donation handling. StreamElements

If you tell me where you're broadcasting (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.) and what donation platform you use (PayPal, Givebutter, Donorbox, Tiltify, etc.), I can recommend the cheapest exact setup and explain how to build the donation overlay step-by-step.

2. Streamlabs Desktop — easiest for volunteers.
If different volunteers will be producing your broadcasts, Streamlabs may be worth considering because donation/tipping, alerts, goals and other widgets are integrated into one interface. Streamlabs says its tipping system doesn't take a cut of tips, though payment processors can still charge their normal fees.

It also supports donation/charity goal widgets that can be added to OBS as browser sources.

What I'd choose for a nonprofit

I'd build the setup around:

OBS Studio → StreamElements overlays → your donation platform

For a small nonprofit, I’d optimize for zero software cost + easy donation overlays, rather than paying for a full production suite.

My top picks

My recommendation: OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity. OBS is completely free and lets you build scenes with browser-based donation widgets; OBS itself doesn't process donations, so you pair it with a fundraising service. OBS Studio

obsproject.com

For an actual nonprofit fundraiser, streamlabscharity.com is particularly attractive: it currently advertises 0% platform fees, no annual fees, and says donations go directly to the selected charity. It also supports charity alerts and fundraising goals that can appear on stream. Streamlabs Charity Streamlabs

If you want the simplest setup

Go with Streamlabs Desktop + Streamlabs Charity. The free Streamlabs tier includes streaming software, widgets, overlays, alerts and a tip page; the paid Ultra tier is optional. Streamlabs

streamlabs.com

The tradeoff is that OBS gives you more control and generally keeps the production stack leaner, while Streamlabs is easier for volunteers to get running quickly.

One important distinction

If you are collecting donations on behalf of your own nonprofit, rather than fundraising for another registered charity, I'd look more carefully at Tiltify, Givebutter, Zeffy, or your existing donation processor for the money-collection side. The streaming software and fundraising platform are separate pieces.

For a recurring nonprofit livestream operation, my ideal low-budget stack would be:

OBS Studio → Streamlabs Charity/Tiltify → donation goal + alert overlays → YouTube/Twitch/Facebook

That can get you a surprisingly professional production for $0/month in software, assuming your chosen fundraising/payment platform doesn't impose transaction/payment-processing costs. unstore.io OBS Studio

If you tell me which platforms you broadcast to (YouTube/Twitch/Facebook/etc.) and whether donations go directly to your nonprofit, I can recommend the cheapest specific setup and explain exactly how I'd wire the donation overlay into OBS.

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize $0 software cost, donation/goal overlays, and low payment fees. My top picks are:

1. Best overall: OBS Studio + StreamElements

obsproject.com is free and open-source, and supports scenes, webcams, graphics, browser sources, and essentially any streaming platform. OBS Studio OBS Studio

Pair it with streamelements.com for the fundraising layer. StreamElements provides free customizable overlays, alerts, goals and widgets, and its SE.Tips service supports tipping without an earnings cut. StreamElements StreamElements

This is particularly good for a nonprofit because you can build something like:

LIVE → $7,425 raised / $10,000 goal → recent donor → donation alert

StreamElements overlays are added to OBS through a browser source, so you don't need a paid broadcasting package. StreamElements Docs

2. Easiest: Streamlabs

streamlabs.com has a free tier with streaming software, widgets, overlays, alerts, a tip page and moderation tools. Streamlabs

Its donation system supports one-time and monthly tips, donation alerts, goals, tip tickers and other fundraising-oriented widgets. Streamlabs says it doesn't take a cut of tips, although normal payment-processing fees still apply. Streamlabs

I'd choose this if your volunteers aren't particularly technical. It's more turnkey than assembling OBS + separate services.

3. If you're already using another donation platform

You don't necessarily need your streaming software to process donations. OBS itself explicitly recommends using a third-party donation provider and displaying its alerts through a browser source. OBS Studio

That can be a good setup if your nonprofit already uses something like a dedicated fundraising platform and needs donations properly attributed to campaigns/donors.

My recommendation

For a small nonprofit: start with OBS Studio + StreamElements.

You get a $0 broadcasting stack, professional-looking donation alerts and fundraising goals, and plenty of flexibility to brand the livestream around your organization. If volunteer training/simplicity matters more than flexibility, go with Streamlabs instead.

One important distinction: the streaming software isn't necessarily the donation processor. Check the payment-processing/platform fees separately, because even when OBS, StreamElements or Streamlabs charge $0, card/payment processors can still charge transaction fees. Streamlabs StreamElements

If you tell me where you stream (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, your own website, etc.) and what you currently use to collect donations, I can recommend the cheapest specific setup and map out exactly how the donation goal/alerts would work.

For a small nonprofit, I’d narrow it to OBS Studio + a donation platform or Streamlabs Desktop. If ease of use for volunteers matters more than maximum control, StreamYard is another strong option.

My recommendation: OBS + donation platform

OBS Studio is completely free and gives you very sophisticated scenes, lower-thirds, browser sources, videos, donation goals, and alerts. The tradeoff is that someone on your team needs to configure it. StreamYard StreamYard

For donations, streamlabs.com is particularly attractive for a small organization: it provides a donation/tip page, recurring tipping, goals, and on-screen alerts, and Streamlabs says it doesn't take a cut of tips beyond normal payment-processing fees. Streamlabs

That combination gives you a very capable fundraising setup for essentially $0 in software subscriptions.

If you want something easier: Streamlabs Desktop

streamlabs.com is probably the easiest choice if your priority is "show the donation, play an alert, update the goal, and keep the broadcast moving." Its donation system directly supports Alert Box, Goals, Tip Ticker, Event List and other widgets. Streamlabs

You can start free and only pay if you need its premium features.

If volunteers/guests will run the show: StreamYard

streamyard.com is much simpler for nontechnical presenters because it's browser-based. Its paid plans provide overlays, branding, multistreaming and on-screen comments. StreamYard Help Center

Importantly for you, StreamYard currently offers 10% off its monthly and annual plans for eligible nonprofits. StreamYard Help Center

I'd choose this if your fundraiser looks more like a telethon/interview/panel than a graphics-heavy production.

Where Restream fits

restream.io is worth considering if you want to broadcast simultaneously to multiple platforms. Its free plan supports two channels, while paid plans increase that to 3, 5, or 8 channels. Restream Restream Help Center It also supports custom overlays and graphics. Restream Help Center

Bottom line:

• Tightest budget + best control: OBS + Streamlabs/Tiltify
• Easiest donation-focused setup: Streamlabs Desktop
• Easiest for volunteers, interviews and guests: StreamYard
• Main priority is broadcasting everywhere: Restream

If you tell me which platforms you stream to (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.) and roughly how many fundraisers you do per year, I can recommend the cheapest specific setup—including the donation platform and payment fees.

OBS Studio is completely free and gives you very sophisticated scenes, lower-thirds, browser sources, videos, donation goals, and alerts. The tradeoff is that someone on your team needs to configure it. StreamYard StreamYard

For donations, streamlabs.com is particularly attractive for a small organization: it provides a donation/tip page, recurring tipping, goals, and on-screen alerts, and Streamlabs says it doesn't take a cut of tips beyond normal payment-processing fees. Streamlabs

That combination gives you a very capable fundraising setup for essentially $0 in software subscriptions.

If you want something easier: Streamlabs Desktop

streamlabs.com is probably the easiest choice if your priority is "show the donation, play an alert, update the goal, and keep the broadcast moving." Its donation system directly supports Alert Box, Goals, Tip Ticker, Event List and other widgets. Streamlabs

You can start free and only pay if you need its premium features.

If volunteers/guests will run the show: StreamYard

streamyard.com is much simpler for nontechnical presenters because it's browser-based. Its paid plans provide overlays, branding, multistreaming and on-screen comments. support.streamyard.com

Importantly for you, StreamYard currently offers 10% off its monthly and annual plans for eligible nonprofits. support.streamyard.com

I'd choose this if your fundraiser looks more like a telethon/interview/panel than a graphics-heavy production.

Where Restream fits

For a small nonprofit, I’d optimize for $0 software cost, easy donation alerts, and low technical overhead. The best options are:

🥇 My recommendation: OBS Studio + StreamElements

OBS Studio is free and gives you the strongest control over scenes, cameras, videos, lower thirds, and multiple sources. OBS itself doesn't process donations, but it explicitly supports using third-party donation providers and displaying their alerts through browser sources. OBS Studio

Pair it with StreamElements. Its overlay system is free, supports donation/tip alerts, fundraising goals, custom widgets, and branded graphics, and can put the entire overlay into OBS as a browser source. StreamElements Docs StreamElements

StreamElements' current tipping system also supports multiple payment methods, including cards and local payment methods through SE.Pay. StreamElements

Typical setup:

Camera + Mic → OBS Studio → YouTube/Twitch/Facebook

with

StreamElements → donation page → donation alert/goal → OBS overlay

That's probably the sweet spot for a nonprofit that has someone willing to spend an hour learning the setup.

🥈 Easiest: Streamlabs

Streamlabs is particularly attractive if you don't want to assemble several pieces. Its free offering includes streaming software, overlays, alerts, a tip page, and Cloudbot. Streamlabs says it doesn't take a cut of tips; payment processors can still have their own fees. Streamlabs

For an actual charitable fundraising campaign, Streamlabs Charity is especially interesting: it says it charges no annual, monthly, or transaction fees, and that charities receive 100% of fundraising proceeds. It also supports Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and other destinations. Streamlabs Charity

So if you're raising money for your nonprofit itself, rather than simply accepting tips as a streamer, I'd investigate Streamlabs Charity first.

What I'd choose

• You want maximum flexibility: OBS Studio + StreamElements
• You want the simplest possible operator experience: Streamlabs
• You're running formal nonprofit campaigns and want donations routed directly to the organization: Streamlabs Charity
• You already have OBS experience: Stick with OBS and add StreamElements rather than paying for a premium broadcast package.

One important distinction: “donation overlay” and “fundraising platform” aren't necessarily the same thing. An overlay can merely display “Jane donated $100”; a nonprofit fundraising platform can handle the actual campaign, donor flow, goals, receipts/tax considerations, and routing of funds.

If you tell me which platforms you broadcast to (YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, etc.) and whether donations go directly to your nonprofit, I can recommend the cheapest specific setup and walk you through the overlay configuration.

StreamElements' current tipping system also supports multiple payment methods, including cards and local payment methods through SE.Pay. StreamElements

Typical setup:

Camera + Mic → OBS Studio → YouTube/Twitch/Facebook

with

StreamElements → donation page → donation alert/goal → OBS overlay

That's probably the sweet spot for a nonprofit that has someone willing to spend an hour learning the setup.

🥈 Easiest: Streamlabs

Streamlabs is particularly attractive if you don't want to assemble several pieces. Its free offering includes streaming software, overlays, alerts, a tip page, and Cloudbot. Streamlabs says it doesn't take a cut of tips; payment processors can still have their own fees. streamlabs.com

For an actual charitable fundraising campaign, Streamlabs Charity is especially interesting: it says it charges no annual, monthly, or transaction fees, and that charities receive 100% of fundraising proceeds. It also supports Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and other destinations.

So if you're raising money for your nonprofit itself, rather than simply accepting tips as a streamer, I'd investigate Streamlabs Charity first.

For a small nonprofit, I’d narrow it to OBS Studio + a donation platform or Streamlabs Desktop.

My recommendation: OBS + Streamlabs

If keeping costs down is the priority, I'd choose OBS Studio. It's completely free/open-source and supports scenes, webcams, images, text, capture cards, and browser sources. Browser sources are particularly useful because they can display donation alerts and fundraising widgets directly over your video. OBS Studio OBS Studio

Pair it with streamlabs.com for the donation layer. Streamlabs currently offers a free tip page and says it takes 0% of tips, although normal payment-processing fees still apply. It provides on-screen alerts, donation goals, tip tickers, event lists, and other widgets. Streamlabs

That gives you a setup like:

Camera/mics → OBS → YouTube/Facebook/etc.
Donor → Streamlabs → donation alert/goal → OBS overlay

The nice thing is that you don't need to pay for OBS or Streamlabs' premium desktop features just to get basic donation alerts. Streamlabs' current Desktop free tier includes a basic tip page, and its widgets can be used through the desktop app, OBS plugin, or browser source. Streamlabs Streamlabs

One important distinction for a nonprofit

If you're raising money for your own nonprofit, a normal Streamlabs tip/donation setup may be appropriate.

If you're running a livestream to raise money for another registered charity, I'd look at a dedicated charitable fundraising platform such as streamlabs.com or tiltify.com. That can make the fundraising trail clearer to donors and give you charity-specific goals/alerts. Streamlabs specifically supports charity-donation alerts in its streaming tools. Streamlabs

Bottom line: For a small nonprofit that has someone comfortable learning a little software, OBS + Streamlabs is probably the best cost-to-capability combination. If you want, I can also compare OBS + Streamlabs vs. StreamYard vs. Restream specifically for a nonprofit budget, including current pricing, platform limits, donation fees, and ease of use.

For a small nonprofit, I’d avoid paying for an expensive “broadcast suite.” The most cost-effective setup is usually free streaming software + a nonprofit-focused donation platform that supplies browser-based overlays.

My top choices

1. OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity — my recommendation

obsproject.com is free, open-source, and runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. OBS itself doesn't process donations, but it can display donation alerts, goals, thermometers, and other widgets through its Browser Source feature. OBS Studio OBS Studio

streamlabscharity.com is particularly interesting for a nonprofit: it currently says it charges no platform or transaction fees and that charities receive 100% of fundraising proceeds, although payment processors can still have their own terms/fees. Streamlabs Charity

Why I'd choose it: you get professional-looking donation alerts and fundraising graphics without committing to a monthly software subscription.

2. OBS Studio + Tiltify — best for larger campaigns

tiltify.com is worth considering if you run campaigns with fundraising goals, incentives, milestones, multiple fundraisers, etc. You can feed its widgets into OBS as Browser Sources. OBS explicitly supports this type of third-party donation/alert integration. OBS Studio OBS Studio

I'd favor this when fundraising functionality is more important than minimizing complexity.

3. Streamlabs Desktop — easiest all-in-one option

streamlabs.com is built on the OBS engine and has donation/tip pages, alerts, widgets, and overlays built in. Its current free tier includes streaming, basic widgets, and a basic tip page; paid tiers add things such as multistreaming and additional themes/features. Streamlabs Streamlabs

This is probably the better choice if your volunteers aren't particularly technical and you'd rather pay nothing initially while having a simpler interface.

What I'd use for your nonprofit

OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity + YouTube Live/Facebook Live

That gives you:

• 🎥 Free professional broadcast software
• 💰 Donation page and fundraising campaign
• 📈 On-screen donation total/goal
• 🔔 Animated donation alerts
• 🖥️ Custom logos, sponsor graphics, lower thirds, etc.
• 💵 No monthly streaming-software expense
• 🔧 Ability to keep the setup even if you later change streaming platforms

OBS's Browser Source is specifically designed for putting web-based alert and fundraising widgets directly into your scenes. OBS Studio OBS Studio

If you tell me (1) which platform you stream to—YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, or multiple—and (2) whether you need things like a live fundraising thermometer, donor names, donation ticker, and matching-gift progress, I can recommend the cheapest exact stack and explain how I'd wire the overlays together.

streamlabscharity.com is particularly interesting for a nonprofit: it currently says it charges no platform or transaction fees and that charities receive 100% of fundraising proceeds, although payment processors can still have their own terms/fees.

Why I'd choose it: you get professional-looking donation alerts and fundraising graphics without committing to a monthly software subscription.

2. OBS Studio + Tiltify — best for larger campaigns

For a small nonprofit, I’d optimize for $0 software cost + low donation fees + easy overlays, rather than paying for a premium broadcasting suite.

My top choices

1. OBS Studio + StreamElements — my pick for you

OBS Studio is free, open-source broadcasting software. OBS itself doesn't process donations; instead, you add a third-party donation/alert service as a browser source. obsproject.com

StreamElements offers free customizable overlays and widgets, including donation/tip alerts. Its overlay system can put alerts, goals, chat, and other widgets into a single browser source. obsproject.comdocs.streamelements.comstreamlabs.comstreamlabscharity.com

For a nonprofit, that's an attractive combination because you can build things like:

• "2026 Fundraising Goal: $25,000" progress bar
• Recent donor ticker
• Animated "$100 donated by Jane!" alerts
• QR code / donation URL
• Custom nonprofit branding
• Thank-you screens

StreamElements also provides a tipping page and supports multiple payment methods through its tipping system. streamelements.com

2. OBS Studio + Streamlabs — easiest for volunteers

Streamlabs is another good $0 option. Its free tooling includes a tip page, alerts, goals, tip ticker, and other widgets. Streamlabs says it doesn't take a cut of tips, although payment-processing fees still apply. streamlabs.com

The big advantage for a nonprofit with rotating volunteers is simplicity: fewer separate pieces to learn.

3. Streamlabs Charity — worth a serious look

If you're running actual charitable fundraising campaigns rather than simply accepting donations to your organization, Streamlabs Charity is particularly relevant. It advertises no annual fees and 0% platform cut of donations, and is specifically designed for charity livestreaming. streamlabscharity.com

What I'd choose

For recurring fundraising livestreams:
OBS Studio + StreamElements

For occasional events where different volunteers need to operate the stream:
OBS Studio + Streamlabs

For dedicated charity campaigns where fundraising/donation handling is the central concern:
Streamlabs Charity

One important distinction: OBS is the broadcasting software; the donation overlay normally comes from StreamElements, Streamlabs, or another donation provider. You don't need to buy an expensive "all-in-one" streaming program just to get donation overlays. obsproject.com

If you tell me whether you're streaming primarily to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, or multiple platforms, I can recommend the cheapest setup—including the donation/payment flow and exactly which overlays I'd use.

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize low/no software cost, easy donation integration, and overlays that volunteers can operate without much technical training.

My picks

🥇 Best value: OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity

For a nonprofit, this is probably the combination I'd choose.

OBS Studio is completely free and doesn't have a paid tier. It can display donation alerts and goals using browser sources, although OBS itself doesn't process donations. OBS Project

Then use streamlabscharity.com for the fundraising side. Streamlabs says its charity platform has 0% platform fees, no annual fees, and sends fundraising proceeds directly to the charity. Streamlabs Charity Streamlabs

You can put a live donation goal/progress bar directly into an OBS scene. Streamlabs specifically documents adding its Charity Donation Goal to OBS as a Browser Source. Streamlabs

That gives you:

• $0 streaming-software cost
• Live donation goals
• Donation alerts
• Custom overlays
• Webcam + multiple cameras
• Screen sharing
• Scenes for different portions of the fundraiser
• No need to pay for Streamlabs Ultra

🥈 Easiest: Streamlabs Desktop

If your volunteers aren't particularly technical, streamlabs.com may be worth using instead of plain OBS.

Its free version includes widgets, overlays, alerts, a basic tip page and Cloudbot. Streamlabs Streamlabs also has dedicated goal widgets, including charity donation goals, that can be added directly to a stream. Streamlabs

You don't need the $27/month Ultra plan just to run a basic fundraising livestream. Streamlabs

One important distinction

If your nonprofit itself is receiving the donations, I'd lean toward Streamlabs Charity or another dedicated charity fundraising platform, rather than simply putting a PayPal/Stripe donation link on screen. The former is designed around charity campaigns and can show fundraising progress during the broadcast.

If you're mainly doing fundraising events with interviews, speakers, sponsors, and multiple remote guests, I'd consider StreamYard instead. It is considerably easier for nontechnical presenters, although you'll generally spend more than with OBS.

Bottom line:
OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity = best cost/value.
Streamlabs Desktop + Streamlabs Charity = best ease of use.
StreamYard = best if simplicity and remote guests matter more than minimizing cost.

If you tell me whether you stream to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, or several simultaneously, I can narrow this down to the cheapest setup and explain exactly what you'd need for donation buttons, on-screen goals, alerts, and payment processing.

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize low software cost + low donation fees + easy donation/goal overlays. My top choices are:

🥇 Best value: OBS Studio + Streamlabs

OBS Studio is free and open-source. It doesn't process donations itself, but it can display donation alerts and goals through browser-source overlays. obsproject.com

Pair it with Streamlabs. Its free tier includes streaming software, alerts, widgets, and a tip page, and its Alert Box can display donation/tip notifications on screen. streamlabs.com

For a fundraiser, you can have something like:

$7,425 raised / $10,000 goal
██████████████░░░░░░
John donated $100! 🎉

Streamlabs also supports donation goals and specifically supports goals connected to Streamlabs Charity and Tiltify. streamlabs.com

🥈 Easiest: Streamlabs Desktop

If nobody on your team is particularly technical, I'd seriously consider Streamlabs Desktop.

The free version gives you the basic streaming software, alerts, widgets and tip page. You can upgrade later if you need premium overlays or multistreaming. streamlabs.com

The catch: OBS gives you more flexibility and avoids tying your production workflow to one vendor.

❤️ If you're raising money specifically for your nonprofit

Take a close look at Streamlabs Charity. It currently advertises no monthly/annual fees and 0% platform cut of donations, with funds going directly to the charity. streamlabscharity.com

That's particularly attractive for a nonprofit because you don't want to spend $15–30/month on production software just to get a donation widget.

My recommended stack:

OBS Studio (free) + Streamlabs Charity (fundraising) + Streamlabs widgets (donation alerts/goals)

That gives you a professional-looking broadcast without a recurring software bill, while keeping the fundraising component separate from the video-production software.

If your streams involve multiple hosts/guests joining remotely, though, I'd choose StreamYard + Streamlabs Charity/Tiltify instead; StreamYard is specifically designed around browser-based production and remote guests. streamyard.com

If you tell me whether you're streaming to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, or several at once, I can narrow this down to the cheapest setup and estimate the actual fees on, say, a $10,000 fundraising stream.

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize low software cost + easy donation overlays + minimal technical overhead. My shortlist:

🥇 Best value: OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity

OBS Studio is completely free and open-source. OBS itself doesn't process donations, but it can display donation alerts/goals supplied by a third-party service through browser sources. obsproject.com

Streamlabs Charity is particularly attractive for a nonprofit: it says there are no annual fees and 0% cut of donations, and its donation-goal widget can be added directly to OBS. streamlabscharity.com

Typical setup:

OBS Studio → YouTube/Facebook/etc.
↳ Streamlabs Charity donation goal/alerts

That gives you donation totals, progress goals, alerts, and custom graphics without paying for broadcasting software.

Downside: OBS has a steeper learning curve. Someone needs to configure scenes, audio, cameras, browser sources, etc.

🥈 Best if volunteers need something simple: StreamYard

StreamYard is much easier for nontechnical hosts because it runs in the browser. Paid plans include overlays, logos, guest management, recordings, and multistreaming. streamyard.com

Importantly for you, StreamYard currently offers 10% off monthly and annual plans for eligible nonprofits. support.streamyard.com

I'd pair it with Streamlabs Charity or another fundraising platform rather than expecting StreamYard itself to handle the donation infrastructure. StreamYard specifically recommends this sort of combination for charity livestreams. streamyard.com

🥉 Restream

Restream is worth considering if you want to broadcast simultaneously to several platforms. Its free plan supports two channels; paid plans increase that to 3 or 5+ and add features such as HD streaming. support.restream.io

Restream Studio also supports custom image/video overlays, so you can put a donation goal or fundraising graphic on screen. support.restream.io

My recommendation

For a small nonprofit with a limited budget, I'd choose:

1. OBS + Streamlabs Charity — $0 software cost
Best if you have one technically comfortable person running production.

2. StreamYard + Streamlabs Charity — easiest workflow
Worth paying for if volunteers rotate through production or you regularly have remote speakers.

3. Restream — best if multistreaming is the priority
Particularly useful if you routinely need YouTube + Facebook + another destination simultaneously.

If you tell me which platforms you broadcast to (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.), whether you need multiple remote guests, and roughly how many fundraising streams you do per year, I can narrow this down to the cheapest setup that still gives you professional donation goals/alerts.

For a small nonprofit running fundraising livestreams, I’d focus less on “streaming software” alone and more on the combination of broadcast tool + donation platform + overlays. The most cost-effective setups are usually:

My recommendation for a small nonprofit

Best value setup: OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity

• Cost: $0 for the core software.
• Donation features: Streamlabs Charity provides donation pages, fundraising goals, and overlay widgets that can be added to OBS as browser sources. support.streamlabs.com
• Good fit: A monthly/quarterly fundraiser where one volunteer can operate scenes, cameras, and audio.

Typical workflow:

1. Create your fundraising campaign in Streamlabs Charity.
2. Add a donation goal bar, recent donor alerts, or thank-you messages.
3. Put those widgets into OBS as browser sources.
4. Stream to YouTube/Facebook/Twitch. support.streamlabs.com

If your team is not technical

Use StreamYard + a donation platform:

• Hosts and guests join through a browser link.
• Easier for panels, interviews, board members, and guest speakers.
• Less time spent troubleshooting scenes and audio routing. streamyard.com

Other nonprofit-friendly donation tools to consider

• Tiltify — popular for creator-style charity streams and donation overlays.
• Givebutter — useful if you want donations, event pages, and donor management together.
• Zeffy — often considered by nonprofits looking to minimize platform fees.

A practical low-budget stack

For a small organization, I’d start with:

• Broadcast: OBS Studio (free)
• Donations: Streamlabs Charity or your existing nonprofit donation provider
• Graphics: Canva-created lower thirds + OBS scenes
• Streaming destinations: YouTube Live + Facebook Live
• Hardware: one decent USB microphone is usually a bigger improvement than expensive cameras

If your livestreams are mostly interviews/panels, choose StreamYard. If they are produced shows with scenes, videos, graphics, and multiple sources, choose OBS. streamyard.com

For a small nonprofit, I’d narrow it to OBS Studio + a fundraising/overlay service or Streamlabs.

🥇 My pick: OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity

OBS Studio is completely free and open-source. OBS itself doesn't process donations, but it can display donation alerts and goals from third-party services through Browser Sources. obsproject.com

For an actual nonprofit fundraiser, Streamlabs Charity is particularly attractive: it says there are no annual, monthly, or transaction fees, and charities receive 100% of fundraising proceeds. streamlabscharity.com It also provides donation-goal overlays that can be added directly to OBS. streamlabs.com

So your setup could be:

Camera/mics → OBS Studio → YouTube/Facebook/Twitch
　　　　　　　　　　 ↳ Streamlabs Charity donation goal + alerts

That gives you professional-looking fundraising graphics without paying for streaming software.

🥈 Easiest: Streamlabs Desktop

Streamlabs has a free version with overlays, alerts, a tip page, widgets, and Cloudbot. Its paid Ultra tier is currently $27/month or $189/year, but you shouldn't need Ultra for a basic nonprofit fundraiser. streamlabs.com

I'd choose this if your volunteers aren't very technical and you want "install it, pick an overlay, connect donations, go live."

🥉 If you have lots of remote speakers: StreamYard

StreamYard is more expensive than OBS, but its browser-based studio is considerably easier when you have volunteers, board members, or guests joining remotely. It also offers a nonprofit discount, according to its current nonprofit information. obsproject.comstreamyard.com

Bottom line: If you're comfortable having one technically inclined person run the broadcast, I'd spend $0 on streaming software and use OBS + Streamlabs Charity. Put your budget toward cameras, microphones, graphics, or promoting the fundraiser instead.

If you tell me which platforms you broadcast to (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.) and whether you need multiple cameras/remote guests, I can recommend the cheapest complete setup—including the donation platform and overlays.

For a small nonprofit, I’d narrow it to OBS Studio + a donation platform or Streamlabs Desktop.

🥇 My pick: OBS Studio + Streamlabs

OBS Studio is completely free and open-source. OBS itself doesn't process donations, but it can display donation alerts and other widgets through browser sources. obsproject.com

Pair it with Streamlabs. Its free tier includes the streaming software, overlays, alerts, a tip page, and widgets such as Goals, Tip Ticker, Alert Box, Event List, and End Credits. Streamlabs says it doesn't take a cut of tips, although payment-processing fees still apply. streamlabs.comstreamlabs.com

That gives you a setup like:

Camera/mics → OBS → YouTube/Facebook/Twitch
** ↳ Streamlabs donation alerts + fundraising goal overlay**

For a nonprofit, I'd avoid paying for Streamlabs Ultra initially—the free features cover the core fundraising use case.

If simplicity matters more than flexibility

Streamlabs Desktop is probably the easiest choice. You get the streaming software and donation/alert widgets in one ecosystem, rather than configuring OBS and separate integrations. streamlabs.comstreamlabs.com

One caveat: Streamlabs changed some of its charity widgets in 2026, including discontinuing its Twitch Charity Donation Goal widget, so I'd verify that the particular fundraising workflow you want is still supported before building your production around it. streamlabs.com

If you have lots of guests

StreamYard is worth considering. It's browser-based, so volunteers, speakers, and donors don't necessarily need to install broadcasting software. It can be paired with fundraising platforms such as Streamlabs Charity or Tiltify for donation/goal overlays. streamyard.com

Bottom line: For a small nonprofit watching every dollar, I'd start with OBS Studio + Streamlabs, spending $0/month on broadcasting software and putting the budget toward your actual fundraising campaign.

If you tell me where you stream (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, or multiple platforms) and whether you need donation totals/goals, individual donor alerts, or both, I can recommend the cheapest exact setup.

For a small nonprofit broadcasting fundraising livestreams, I’d prioritize low/no software cost, easy volunteer operation, reliable donation tracking, and clean overlays. These are the strongest options:

My recommendation for a small nonprofit

Use OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity.

Why:

• OBS Studio is free, open-source, and powerful enough for professional-looking broadcasts. support.restream.io
• Streamlabs Charity provides fundraising pages and donation goal overlays designed for charity livestreams. Its donation goal widget can be added to OBS as a browser source overlay. support.streamlabs.com
• Streamlabs Charity states that it does not charge charities transaction/platform fees for donations. streamlabscharity.com

A typical setup:

1. Create your fundraiser page in Streamlabs Charity.
2. Install OBS Studio.
3. Add:
   • camera feeds
   • sponsor/logo graphics
   • donation thermometer
   • recent donor alerts
   • lower-thirds and captions
4. Stream simultaneously to YouTube and Facebook if desired. streamlabscharity.com

Other good nonprofit-friendly options

StreamElements + OBS

• Good if you have someone comfortable with design.
• Strong for custom overlays, branded graphics, and reusable show templates.
• Usually preferred when you want a “broadcast network” look.

Restream

• Useful if your audience is split across platforms.
• Lets you manage multiple destinations, though some features require paid plans. support.restream.io

vMix

• Excellent for multi-camera events, remote guests, and studio-style productions.
• Usually worth considering only if livestreaming is a major fundraising channel.

Donation platforms to pair with your stream

Depending on your nonprofit setup:

• Streamlabs Charity — best if the livestream itself is the fundraising engine. streamlabscharity.com
• Tiltify — popular for nonprofit livestream campaigns with overlays, milestones, and campaign tracking. www.teachfloor.com
• Your existing donor platform (Givebutter, Donorbox, etc.) plus an OBS browser overlay can work if you already have one.

A low-budget “professional” stack

• OBS Studio: $0
• Streamlabs Charity: $0 platform cost
• Canva: graphics
• USB microphone: ~$50–150
• Two webcams or HDMI cameras: optional
• Volunteer producer running OBS

For most small nonprofits, this gets you 80–90% of a professional fundraising broadcast without paying for a production platform.

For a small nonprofit, I’d prioritize low software cost + easy donation overlays + reliability. My shortlist:

🥇 Best value: OBS Studio + Streamlabs

OBS Studio is completely free and gives you very granular control over cameras, video, graphics, scenes, and audio. Its Browser Source lets you put web-based donation alerts, fundraising goals, chat, and other widgets directly on the broadcast. obsproject.com

Pair it with Streamlabs for the fundraising layer. Streamlabs currently offers free tipping, donation alerts, goals, tip tickers, and related widgets; it says it takes 0% of tips, with normal payment-processing fees still applying. streamlabs.com

For a nonprofit, this is probably what I'd choose if you have one technically comfortable person running production.

🥈 Easiest: Streamlabs Desktop

Streamlabs Desktop is essentially an easier, more integrated version of the OBS approach. The free version includes a basic tip page, and Streamlabs provides donation goals and alert widgets. streamlabs.com

The advantage is that your producer doesn't have to assemble as many separate pieces. The disadvantage is that some advanced features are behind Ultra ($15.75/month when billed annually). streamlabs.com

🥉 Best for nontechnical presenters: StreamYard

StreamYard is particularly good if your fundraising broadcasts involve several nonprofit staff, board members, or guest speakers joining remotely. It's browser-based, so guests don't need to learn OBS. Its current free plan is quite limited, while the Core plan is listed at about $45/month monthly or $36/month annually and adds 1080p, multistreaming, overlays, recordings, etc. streamyard.com

For a small nonprofit doing occasional events, I'd generally avoid paying for StreamYard unless the ease of use saves you significant staff time.

One important nonprofit consideration

If by "donation overlay" you mean something like:

$7,420 raised / $10,000 goal
🔵████████░░ 74%
Thank you, Maria!

you don't necessarily need a specialized fundraising platform. OBS + a donation/alert provider can do this very cheaply, and OBS explicitly supports donation alerts through third-party providers. obsproject.com

My recommendation: start with OBS Studio + Streamlabs at $0/month, and only move to a paid platform if the production complexity becomes a problem. That gives you the most money left over for the actual fundraiser.

If you tell me where you broadcast (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, multiple platforms) and whether donations come through your nonprofit website, PayPal, Stripe, or a fundraising platform, I can recommend the cheapest specific setup and explain exactly how I'd wire the donation goal/alerts into the stream.

For a small nonprofit, I’d start with OBS Studio + a donation/alert service, rather than paying for an all-in-one production suite.

🥇 My pick: OBS Studio + Streamlabs

OBS Studio is completely free and open-source. It gives you excellent control over cameras, prerecorded videos, lower-thirds, scenes, audio, and screen sharing. OBS itself doesn't process donations, but it can display donation alerts and goals supplied by a third-party service through browser sources. obsproject.com

Streamlabs provides the donation side: alerts, donation/goal widgets, and overlays. Its current goal system supports charity donation goals and can be added to OBS as a browser source or through its OBS plugin. streamlabs.com

For an actual charitable campaign, Streamlabs Charity is particularly attractive: it says it charges 0% to charities or streamers, with donations going directly to the selected charity. streamlabscharity.com

If simplicity matters more than maximum flexibility

Streamlabs Desktop is easier for volunteers to learn because alerts, overlays, goals, and other widgets are integrated. You can use the free tier and only consider the paid Ultra tier if you actually need its premium features. Streamlabs currently lists Ultra at $27/month or $189/year. streamlabs.com

What I'd do for your nonprofit

$0 software budget:

1. OBS Studio for broadcasting.
2. Streamlabs/Streamlabs Charity for donation processing and on-screen donation alerts.
3. Create 3–4 OBS scenes: Starting Soon → Live → Donation/Guest → Thanks/Ending.
4. Put a persistent fundraising goal bar on the Live scene.
5. Use donation alerts sparingly so they don't overwhelm the actual fundraising message.

If you're also broadcasting simultaneously to YouTube + Facebook + Twitch, that changes the recommendation somewhat because multistreaming can introduce additional costs. I can compare the cheapest setups for 1 platform vs. 3+ platforms, including nonprofit discounts and donation processing fees. streamyard.com

For a small nonprofit, I’d start with OBS Studio + a donation/alert service, rather than paying for an all-in-one streaming suite.

🥇 My pick: OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity

OBS Studio is completely free and open-source. It doesn't process donations itself, but it can display donation alerts and goals from third-party services as browser sources. obsproject.com

For actual charitable fundraising, Streamlabs Charity is particularly interesting for a nonprofit: it says it charges 0% platform fees, has no annual/monthly fees, and sends fundraising proceeds directly to the selected charity. streamlabscharity.com

You can put a live fundraising goal/bar, donation alerts, and other widgets directly over the video in OBS. Streamlabs documents adding its Charity Donation Goal to OBS through a browser source. support.streamlabs.com

If you want the simplest possible setup

Streamlabs Desktop bundles the streaming software and its widgets together, so it's easier for volunteers who aren't comfortable configuring OBS. Its free functionality includes alerts and goal widgets; paid Ultra features are optional. support.streamlabs.comstreamlabscharity.com

One important distinction

If you're fundraising for your own nonprofit, rather than fundraising on behalf of another charity, I'd look carefully at how the money is collected and receipted. Streamlabs Charity is specifically structured around donations going directly to listed charitable organizations, whereas ordinary Streamlabs tips are a different mechanism. support.streamlabs.comstreamlabscharity.com

Bottom line: For a cash-conscious nonprofit, I'd choose OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity if your organization is eligible/listed. It's the combination I'd use to get professional-looking donation goals and alerts without adding a monthly software expense.

If you tell me whether you broadcast primarily to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, or multiple platforms, I can narrow this down to the cheapest setup for your specific workflow.

For a small nonprofit, I’d narrow it to OBS Studio + Streamlabs or Streamlabs Desktop.

My recommendation: OBS + Streamlabs

OBS Studio itself is completely free/open-source, but it doesn't process donations. You add a donation provider's browser-source widget to OBS. support.restream.io

Streamlabs is particularly well suited to fundraising: its Alert Box supports donation/tip alerts, and its widgets include donation goals that can show fundraising progress directly on the broadcast. The Alert Box itself is free. streamlabs.com

For an actual charitable campaign, Streamlabs Charity is especially interesting: it says charities pay no annual or transaction fees and receive 100% of fundraising proceeds. streamlabscharity.com

When I'd choose Restream instead

If you're broadcasting simultaneously to YouTube + Facebook + Twitch, Restream's free tier handles two channels, while its paid Standard plan is currently $19/month ($16/month annually) for three channels and removes the Restream branding. It also supports overlays and browser-source widgets. restream.io

What I'd avoid for a tight nonprofit budget

StreamYard is polished and very easy for volunteers to learn, but its Core plan is around $45/month, even though it does offer a nonprofit discount. For a small organization, I'd spend that money only if ease-of-use for nontechnical volunteers is more important than minimizing software costs. streamyard.com

Bottom line:
$0-budget: OBS Studio + Streamlabs donation/goal widgets.
Need multistreaming: OBS + Restream, starting free.
Need the least technical setup: StreamYard, especially if you qualify for its nonprofit discount.

If you tell me which platforms you broadcast to (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.) and whether donations go directly to your nonprofit or through a fundraising platform, I can recommend the cheapest exact setup and explain how the donation overlay would work.

For a small nonprofit, I’d narrow it to OBS Studio + a donation platform or Streamlabs.

🥇 Best value: OBS Studio + Streamlabs/StreamElements

OBS Studio is completely free and open-source. OBS itself doesn't process donations, but it can display donation alerts and goal bars through browser-source widgets. obsproject.com

That gives you a very inexpensive setup:

OBS → YouTube/Facebook/Twitch
Donation platform → donation page + alerts/goal overlay → OBS

This is what I'd choose if your nonprofit has one technically comfortable volunteer who can configure the scenes once.

🥈 Easiest: Streamlabs

Streamlabs has a free version with built-in overlays, alerts, widgets, a tip page, and Cloudbot. Streamlabs says its free tier doesn't take a cut of tips; paid Ultra is optional at $27/month or $189/year. streamlabs.com

For a fundraising livestream, this is particularly convenient because you can put a donation goal/progress bar, recent donor alerts, and donation notifications directly into the broadcast. media.streamlabs.com

❤️ If you're raising money for the nonprofit

I'd also look closely at Streamlabs Charity, rather than simply using a creator's personal tip page. It says charities can use the platform at no annual fee and 0% platform cut, with donations going directly to the selected charity. streamlabscharity.com

That distinction matters for nonprofit accounting: you generally want donations routed to the organization rather than temporarily through an individual's account.

What I'd pick for you

If budget is the overriding concern:
OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity — essentially $0 for the streaming software and fundraising platform, while retaining sophisticated overlays.

If simplicity is more important than absolute lowest cost:
Streamlabs — fewer moving parts and much easier for volunteers to operate.

If your livestreams involve several remote speakers/guests:
StreamYard + a fundraising platform may be worth the extra cost because it's browser-based and designed around bringing guests into a production. StreamYard also currently offers a nonprofit discount. streamyard.com

If you tell me where you broadcast (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.), whether you need multiple cameras/remote guests, and roughly how often you stream, I can recommend the cheapest specific setup—including the donation/goal overlay stack.

For a small nonprofit, I’d look at two main setups:

🥇 Best value: OBS Studio + Streamlabs

OBS Studio is completely free and open-source. OBS itself doesn't process donations, but it supports donation alerts/overlays through third-party services using Browser Sources. obsproject.com

Streamlabs can provide donation alerts, goals, event lists and other widgets directly inside OBS. Its OBS plugin is free, and you can add things such as donation alerts and fundraising goal bars without paying for the full premium package. media.streamlabs.com

For a nonprofit specifically, Streamlabs Charity is particularly interesting: it says it charges no annual fees and takes 0% of donations, with funds going directly to the participating charity. streamlabscharity.com

I'd choose this if: you have someone comfortable learning OBS and want to keep recurring software costs essentially at $0.

🥈 Easiest: StreamYard

StreamYard is much easier for a small team to operate, particularly if you'll have multiple presenters or remote guests. Its free plan exists, while the Core plan adds 1080p, branding/overlays, multistreaming and unlimited streaming/recording. media.streamlabs.comstreamyard.comstreamyard.com

The tradeoff is that it becomes considerably more expensive than OBS as you add capabilities. For fundraising broadcasts, you can pair it with a donation service when you want dedicated animated donation alerts. streamyard.com

My recommendation

For a small nonprofit doing recurring fundraising livestreams, I'd start with:

OBS Studio + Streamlabs Charity → $0 software cost → donation alerts + donation goals + branded overlays.

If your volunteers aren't technically inclined and ease of use is worth paying for, move to StreamYard.

One important distinction: if by "donation overlays" you mean a live fundraising thermometer/goal that automatically increases as donations arrive, rather than simply "John donated $50" alerts, tell me what donation platform you currently use (PayPal, Givebutter, Donorbox, Classy, etc.). That changes which setup I'd recommend.