Gamers, streamers and content creators across the world are participating in charity streams, using their time and talent to raise money for causes they are passionate about in partnership with their favorite nonprofit organizations.
What Is Charity Streaming and How Does It Work?
Charity streaming allows gamers and content creators to use their talents and influence to raise funds for causes they care about. Streamers “donate” a livestream on Twitch or YouTube to run a fundraising campaign and rally their audiences around a cause. This past year, streamers raised over $111 million for nonprofit organizations on Twitch, the world’s leading livestreaming platform.
Streamers get their audience involved in the cause through curating fun donation incentives, milestones and giveaways. When viewers donate, streamers agree to take actions like shaving their head, doing 20 pushups, eating a worm, getting a pie to the face or any other fun challenges they come up with. Sometimes when they hit their fundraising goal, streamers will give out prizes or do something extra crazy.
Compassion’s Efforts in This Space
Building Homes in Haiti
Compassion first piloted charity streaming in October 2021 to raise relief funds for Haiti after a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the southwest side of the country. The earthquake impacted more than 15,600 Compassion-assisted children who lost homes, family members and their sense of safety. In partnership with 10 Christian gaming groups, Compassion hosted “Hope for Haiti” and raised more than $30,000 for these children in 40 hours. The money went toward rebuilding and repairing 20 homes for children and their families who had lost theirs in the earthquake. The initiative highlighted the depth of passion and generosity of the online gaming community to fight poverty and use their influence for good.
Courtney Dahl, innovation specialist at Compassion, says, “My exposure to the gaming and streaming world has opened my eyes to how God is moving in the digital space. Countless Christians are using Twitch and YouTube as their mission field to bring the light of Christ to the lost. It was only natural for Compassion to partner with these influencers to empower them to not only share the gospel — but to also rally their communities together to make an impact in the lives of children in poverty around the world.”
Computer Labs in Bolivia
On May 6 Compassion launched “2 Weeks of Light,” a two-week charity livestream event. More than 30 Christian content creators and streamers are coming together through May 20 to raise funds to build 25 computer labs for Compassion-assisted children in Bolivia.
Bolivia has the lowest per capita income of any country in South America. Its income inequality is the highest in Latin America and one of the highest in the world. Many parents and caregivers are unemployed or underemployed. These computer labs will help secure a different future for more than 4,200 Bolivian children living in poverty. With internet access and laptop computers, children can further their education, gain valuable technology skills and earn certificates that will help accelerate their careers once they graduate from Compassion’s child development program.
You can tune in to the livestream and directly support the fundraising efforts for Bolivia.
Photo by Ben Adams