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Start at extra-life.org, create an account, choose Classic (free) or Platinum ($19 USD), select one of 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, set a fundraising goal and publish your page. Streaming is optional: if you go live, Twitch offers DonorDrive and Tiltify charity extensions, while YouTube uses OBS (or a console app), an on-screen donation overlay and links in the description and chat. Extra Life Game Day 2026 runs November 7–15, with the signature kickoff on Saturday, November 7, but you can play and fundraise any day of the year.
What is Extra Life, and when is Game Day 2026?
Extra Life is Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ peer-to-peer gaming fundraiser. You choose a participating children’s hospital, create a personal or team donation page, and raise money through video games, tabletop sessions, board games, sports or any other play-based activity. The program began in 2008 after radio host Jeromy “Doc” Adams created a gaming event to honor a child named Victoria who was battling leukemia; the first event on October 15, 2008 drew more than 1,200 gamers. Extra Life became an official CMN Hospitals program in 2010.
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The 2026 Extra Life pages report $145 million raised, support for 170 children’s hospitals and 38 million patient visits across the CMN network. The Game Day page says 72 children are treated every minute in that network. Those are organization-published figures, not an independent Extra Life-only audit.
| 2026 date or window | What it means |
|---|---|
| October 1–November 15, 2026 | Game Day Season promoted by Extra Life |
| November 7, 2026 | Saturday kickoff for the national signature Game Day |
| November 7–15, 2026 | Game Day event window |
| Any other date | Year-round fundraising is allowed; you do not have to wait for Game Day |
A 24-hour marathon is only one format. You can schedule several short streams, a tabletop night, a workplace tournament or a single afternoon. Extra Life’s 2026 message is that there is no single “right” way to participate as long as your activity involves play and supports the cause.
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How do I sign up for Extra Life?
Registration is free for Classic participants and works worldwide, although the beneficiary hospitals are in the United States and Canada. Have an email address, a display name and an idea of the hospital or team you want to support before you begin.
- Open registration. Go to extra-life.org/register and select Join, Sign Up or Register. The 2026 DonorDrive event uses event ID 562 in registration links.
- Create your account. Enter a name, email address and password. You can use your streamer handle instead of a legal name if you want your public page to match your channel identity.
- Choose Classic or Platinum. Classic costs nothing. Platinum has a $19 USD registration fee; that fee is not a donation and is not added to your fundraising total. An Extra Life FAQ heading still shows $15 in one place, but the current answer text lists $19.
- Select a participation format. Continue solo, join an existing team or create a team. Team members keep individual pages while their dollars roll up to the team total.
- Set a goal. The official default is $100 for Classic and $200 for Platinum. You can raise or lower the target later; choose a number that gives donors a clear, achievable milestone.
- Pick a hospital. Select one local CMN hospital from the 170 listed during registration. Donations are directed to that hospital as unrestricted funds.
- Choose your fundraising home base. If the flow offers both services, select Tiltify for creator-focused streaming tools or DonorDrive for a straightforward personal and team page. Hospital links commonly open a DonorDrive event page, but Extra Life now documents both platforms.
- Finish the page. Add a photo, your story, the games or activities you plan to run, dates, milestones and social links. Copy the public donation URL and share it before your first event.
You can customize your display name later, but changing the beneficiary hospital or account details may require support. Use the Extra Life contact form or [email protected] if the dashboard does not offer the change you need.
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| Plan | Registration cost | Default goal | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | Free | $100 USD | Personal fundraising page and access to the standard program tools |
| Platinum | $19 USD; fee does not count as a donation | $200 USD | Achievement badge and Platinum-only incentives, such as an official T-shirt, medals or other items earned at qualifying fundraising levels |
Extra Life has not published a complete 2026 Platinum incentive catalogue or all redemption thresholds in the current FAQ. Treat the $19 fee as a registration charge, not a charitable gift. If your priority is simply raising money, Classic is sufficient; Platinum makes sense when you want the badge and incentive program.
Where does Extra Life money go?
Donations go to the hospital you selected as unrestricted funds. Extra Life says unrestricted money can support research, training, equipment and uncompensated care, and hospitals treat children regardless of their family’s ability to pay. Children’s Health Foundation states that 100% of Extra Life funds benefit local pediatric hospitals, supporting treatment and patient-family programs.
Extra Life is an official peer-to-peer program of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For organization-level financial reports, consult Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ financials page. Do not use a hospital-specific tax ID as a national Extra Life EIN; for example, Children’s Health Foundation lists federal identification number 75-2062015 for that foundation.
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Tax receipts and matching gifts
U.S. donors receive an emailed tax receipt and can request a copy through Extra Life’s contact form. For a Canadian hospital, that hospital’s foundation sends a receipt in February of the following year. Donors should ask their employer whether a matching-gift program can double the contribution; Extra Life provides tax-ID, 501(c)(3) and W-9 documentation through its FAQ resources.
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For an offline gift, make a check payable to “Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals” and put the participant’s name in the memo. Cash should be converted to a cashier’s check or money order. Mail it to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, ATTN: Extra Life, 205 West 700 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. Processing takes about two weeks; once it clears, add the offline donation from your Extra Life dashboard so the page total reflects it.
Should I use Tiltify or DonorDrive?
Both can host an Extra Life fundraiser. Tiltify is aimed at streamers and creators who want live-content tools; DonorDrive is a simpler personal and team fundraising home base with Extra Life-specific widgets and pages.
| Question | Tiltify | DonorDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Creators who want overlays, alerts, polls, auctions, rewards, milestones or Crowd Control-style interactions | Personal or team pages, a straightforward dashboard, QR code, mobile app, Facebook fundraising and a simple stream overlay |
| Twitch integration | Tiltify Fundraising extension, campaign overlay URL and chatbot commands | DonorDrive Charity Fundraising extension, panel widget and fundraising-thermometer overlay |
| Setup order | Create the Tiltify campaign first, then connect it to Twitch and OBS | Register through the Extra Life/DonorDrive page first, then paste that page URL into the extension |
Choose the platform that matches the page you already created. A DonorDrive participant URL will not configure a Tiltify campaign, and vice versa. If you are unsure, DonorDrive is the more direct route for a basic page; Tiltify is better when your stream depends on interactive incentives and alerts.
What equipment and software do I need to stream?
You can stream from a desktop, laptop, Xbox, PlayStation or smartphone. A phone can broadcast your face or an activity without showing a game. For a conventional game stream, plan for a microphone and optionally a webcam.
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- Computer setup: OBS is the named free PC encoder in Extra Life’s streaming guide. Streamlabs OBS, Lightstream and XSplit are alternatives.
- Console setup: Xbox and PlayStation include built-in broadcast apps. A capture card is useful when you want to bring a modern console’s HDMI picture into a PC scene with a webcam, microphone and browser overlays.
- Audio and camera: A USB streaming microphone is the most important peripheral for understandable commentary. Add a webcam if viewers need to see you, your tabletop or a physical challenge.
- Donation display: Use an Extra Life overlay, donation thermometer and recent/top-donor panel. Download branding and overlay assets from the Extra Life Media Kit or CMN brand center.
- Alerts: Streamlabs or StreamElements can show real-time donation alerts. Test the alert browser source with a small private or unlisted rehearsal before your public event.
- Connection: Connect your Twitch or YouTube account to the fundraising page so going live can simulcast to that page when the platform supports it.
Extra Life does not require a particular microphone, webcam, capture-card model or computer specification. Choose equipment that your platform can encode reliably and that lets you read chat while playing.
How do I stream Extra Life on Twitch?
Twitch gives you two donation-panel options: DonorDrive Charity Fundraising for DonorDrive pages and Tiltify Fundraising for Tiltify campaigns. The old Extra Life Twitch extension was retired; the Extra Life Support Center update dated October 5, 2026 directs DonorDrive users to the new DonorDrive Charity Fundraising extension.
Install the DonorDrive Charity Fundraising extension
- Log in at Twitch.tv and open your profile menu.
- Select Creator Dashboard, then Extensions.
- Search for Charity, choose DonorDrive Charity Fundraising and click Install.
- Confirm installation and select Configure.
- Search for and select the charity. Click Next.
- If you already registered, paste your DonorDrive fundraising-page URL. If you have not registered, follow the provided registration link, complete it, then paste the URL.
- Click Save & Complete. In Extension Manager, activate the extension as Panel 1 or another panel.
- In the extension settings, copy the overlay URL containing the fundraising thermometer and add it to OBS as a browser source.
Viewers can donate from the panel while watching. Put the same donation URL in your chat command and stream description so people who miss the panel still have a clear path.
Install Tiltify Fundraising on Twitch
- Create the Tiltify campaign before configuring Twitch. Add incentives, polls, rewards and milestones in Tiltify.
- Build the Tiltify overlay, including goal bars and alerts, and copy its overlay URL.
- In OBS, add a browser source and paste the Tiltify overlay URL.
- Install Tiltify Fundraising from Twitch’s Extensions area, sign in, select the campaign and save.
- Activate the extension on a channel panel and add a chatbot command for the donation URL.
- Pin the URL at the start of the stream. Repeat a concise call to action about every 10–15 minutes without interrupting gameplay.
Tiltify’s extension uses the payment methods available to the charity on Tiltify. Thank large and small donors, assign a moderator to watch alerts and close with a post-stream donation reminder.
Make the Twitch page easy to use
- Use the Twitch tag
extralife. - Put the donation link in a panel, chat command, scheduled bot message and stream description.
- For a non-customized participant URL, adding
#donatejumps directly to payment. - Display the current goal, next milestone and a short explanation of the hospital you selected.
- Offer incentives that are safe and achievable, such as a dice reroll for $1, a D&D character heal for $5, a power-up for $10 or a level restart for $20.
How do I stream Extra Life on YouTube?
YouTube does not have the Twitch-style Extra Life panel extension documented in the current Extra Life materials. Use OBS, XSplit, a console broadcast app or a smartphone, then make the donation page visible in the video itself and in every place viewers look for links.
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- Create or use your YouTube channel and confirm that your channel is eligible to go live under YouTube’s current rules. Extra Life’s materials do not specify watch-hour, subscriber or verification requirements, so check YouTube Studio if the Live button is unavailable.
- Connect the YouTube live account to your Extra Life page in Tiltify or DonorDrive when that dashboard offers the connection. This allows the fundraiser and live broadcast to appear together where supported.
- Add the DonorDrive overlay link or Tiltify overlay URL to OBS as a browser source. Include the goal bar, recent donations and a readable donate callout.
- Place the full donation URL in the video description and a pinned comment. Add it to end screens or cards when your channel has those features.
- Use
#extralifein the YouTube title, description and promotion posts, and tag Extra Life and your selected hospital where appropriate. - Share the live link and fundraising page through email, text, Discord and social posts several days before the event.
Keep the donation URL on screen during gameplay and repeat it verbally at natural breaks. A viewer should not have to search your channel page to find the hospital fundraiser.
How should I plan the fundraiser before going live?
A clear schedule, a modest first goal and a few donor-controlled milestones usually make a stream easier to follow than an improvised 24-hour broadcast.
- Pick a format. Decide between one long session, several shorter blocks, a tabletop event or a mixed schedule. Include meal, hydration, bathroom and stretching breaks.
- Write the page story. Explain why you chose the hospital, what you will play and what each milestone unlocks. A personal reason gives donors context without requiring private patient details.
- Announce early. Share the page and date a few days in advance, then post reminders on the day. Create a calendar entry for every stream block.
- Prepare incentives. Use reversible, safe actions that do not damage equipment or put anyone at risk. Set a cap if an incentive could extend the stream unexpectedly.
- Assign roles. Ask a trusted moderator to watch chat, confirm donations, manage raids or guest links and pause the stream if you need a break.
- Run a private check. Confirm game audio, microphone levels, camera framing, browser sources, donation alerts and the visibility of the page URL before going public.
Extra Life also reports that participants who create a Facebook Fundraiser from their dashboard raise $300 USD more than those who do not. Treat that as an Extra Life-reported comparison, not a guarantee for every campaign.
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During the event
- Welcome viewers by explaining the hospital, goal and next incentive in one sentence.
- Read donor names accurately and thank every donor, including small gifts.
- Keep a visible progress target so viewers know how close the next milestone is.
- Take regular food, water and movement breaks; a healthy, safe stream is more sustainable than forcing a 24-hour session.
- Moderate personal information in chat. Do not reveal a donor’s email address, receipt or payment details on screen.
After the event
- Post the final total and a thank-you message, then leave the donation page open for people who discover it later.
- Continue sharing the page after Game Day; Extra Life is a year-round program.
- Upload a short highlight or progress recap with the donation link still in the description.
- Record offline gifts in the dashboard and resolve any missing alerts with the fundraising platform’s support team.
Can I join from outside the United States or Canada?
Yes. Anyone worldwide can register and stream, but Extra Life’s beneficiary hospitals are in the United States and Canada. The program cannot list foreign hospitals or send checks abroad because of legal restrictions. International supporters can still select a participating hospital in North America; Extra Life highlights Boston Children’s, SickKids in Toronto and Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. for international outreach.
What rules and limitations should I know?
- Age: Extra Life does not publish a minimum age. Anyone under 13 should check with a parent or guardian, and Twitch and YouTube have their own age and safety rules.
- Games: All games and platforms qualify, including mobile games, classic board games, tabletop campaigns and physical play such as H-O-R-S-E.
- Logo merchandise: You cannot sell items using the Extra Life logo without an official license agreement from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
- 24-hour sessions: They are optional. Build breaks into any long event and stop if you feel unwell.
- Subscriptions: Extra Life marketing pages describe donating subscription revenue directly to a fundraising page, but the exact dashboard toggle can vary; confirm the option shown in your account rather than promising a feature you cannot see.
What should I do if something does not work?
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The old Extra Life Twitch extension cannot be found | It was retired | Install DonorDrive Charity Fundraising for a DonorDrive page, or Tiltify Fundraising for a Tiltify campaign. |
| The extension shows no fundraiser | Wrong platform URL or an unregistered page | Confirm whether the page is DonorDrive or Tiltify, paste the full public URL and save the extension configuration again. |
| The overlay is blank | Browser-source URL, dimensions or visibility issue | Copy the current overlay URL from the fundraising dashboard, refresh the browser source and move it above the game layer in OBS. |
| Donations appear on the page but no alert fires | Alert browser source or service connection is stale | Refresh the alert source, verify the connected account and ask a moderator to watch the page while you continue streaming. |
| YouTube Live is unavailable | Channel eligibility or verification requirement | Open YouTube Studio’s Live section and follow YouTube’s current eligibility prompts; Extra Life does not set those requirements. |
| An offline check is missing | Processing delay | Allow roughly two weeks, then contact Extra Life support with the participant name and payment details. |
For account or donation-page help, use the Extra Life contact form, the Knowledge Library at support.extra-life.org or [email protected]. The official Discord at discord.gg/extralife4kids has a #best-practices channel for fundraising questions.
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Where can I find Extra Life tools and community support?
The Extra Life tools and resources hub links to stream materials, apps and fundraising guidance. The Facebook Fundraising page explains the dashboard option, while Extra Life Guilds lists local groups that commonly meet monthly, support hospital events and connect participants with their community.
Developers can also build custom progress displays using the DonorDrive public API documentation linked from the Extra Life FAQ. If you create a tracker, show the fundraiser URL and hospital clearly so viewers can verify where their donation is going.
The simplest successful plan is a free Classic page, a $100 goal, a chosen local hospital, one game session and a visible donation link. Add a team, Platinum incentives, Tiltify interactions or a full overlay only when those features improve the experience for your donors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cancel a recurring Extra Life donation?
Use the Extra Life contact form and provide your full name and the details associated with the recurring gift. The support team can locate the recurring authorization and explain the cancellation process.
Can I build my own Extra Life donation tracker?
Yes. Extra Life’s FAQ links to DonorDrive public API documentation for custom trackers. Keep API credentials private and display only public fundraising information, such as the goal and total.
Do I need a separate charity account for every stream?
No. One participant page can support multiple streams, games and dates throughout the year. Update the schedule and incentives on that page instead of creating a new fundraiser for each session.
Can a team include people who live in different countries?
Yes. Participants can join the same online team from anywhere, even though the selected beneficiary hospital must be in the United States or Canada. Team totals combine the individual pages connected to that team.
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