With ZEvent broadcast on Twitch, “generosity is changing”

Far from charity dinners, incessant follow-up emails, or even recruiters stopping by on the street, ZEvent has helped reinvent the way fundraising for charities in France. This annual fifty-hour marathon dedicated to video game streaming is holding its ninth edition this weekend, both in person—in Montpellier—and online on the Twitch platform. Launched by one of France's star streamers, Zerator, it brings together many well-known internet figures. The goal is to encourage the public to donate massively, with the proceeds then being donated to several charities. Last year, $10 million was raised.

Speaking to Libération, Frédéric Théret, director of development at the Fondation de France, which is responsible for fundraising for ZEvent and distributing donations to beneficiary associations, explains the specifics of this event and the upheaval it is causing in the charitable sector.

How have donations evolved in France in recent years?

The French are generous, donations are not decreasing [they have even increased by 1.9 % last year, according to France générosités , editor's note]. But generosity is changing. Today, we buy everything online, and our ways of giving reflect our consumption patterns. The traditional donation – the annual check sent by a loyal donor – is in decline, and new forms of mobilization are emerging, such as ZEvent , which has become a benchmark worldwide. Last year, it even broke the world record for the number of donations per minute.

Like the Telethon thirty years ago for television, ZEvent is today a kind of showcase, a model. While we are still in the process of understanding digital technology and not all resources are fully exploited, this event opens the door to other forms of online fundraising.

The 10 million from ZEvent is still far from the almost 100 million collected by the Telethon...

Each of these operations is unique in its category. The Téléthon is a television marathon that involves events across France, involves thousands of volunteers, and has been running for three decades. It's difficult to compare this well-established and classic televised event, which operates through pledges, with the ZEvent, launched in 2016, during which small contributions are prioritized—you can give as little as 1 to 2 euros.

Furthermore, it is entirely digital and does not benefit from the visibility of national television channels. Not everyone is familiar with the Twitch platform; a few years ago, no one would have believed it would be possible to raise 10 million euros on it!

How does this digital event raise so many donations?

At ZEvent, we don't see the logic of individual and isolated donations, but rather a collective dynamic. It's also a very playful format, with plenty of entertainment, fostering a dynamic call for donations. It brings together Samuel Etienne [journalist, TV presenter, and creator of a news analysis and game streaming channel on Twitch] as well as other, more traditional video game players. Not all of them have the same audience; each streamer brings their own community. This allows for a very large audience—hundreds of thousands of people—and a very diverse audience.

What role does the video streaming platform Twitch play in this process?

Twitch is instrumental, particularly thanks to its integration of simplified payment methods. The Fondation de France has developed these tools to ensure the transparency and security of donations. Once your details are registered, you can donate with one click, as many times as you like.

And then the platform values ​​each contribution, because the donor's username appears, the streamers thank you live... Everyone feels like they're part of the generosity chain, even with just one euro. And by being on Twitch, the event particularly reaches 18-35 year-olds who are, normally, less inclined to give.

ZEvent's earnings have stagnated at $10 million over the past three years. How should this cap be interpreted?

I wouldn't call it stagnation, but rather a deliberate maturation. Since the first edition, ZEvent has grown every year, with the addition of streamers, the organization of concerts at the Zenith in Montpellier, etc. In 2023, there was no edition because the organizers chose to take a step back and reflect on the future of the event.

In 2024, they finally decided not to engage in a race for "always more." The idea was ultimately to create a regular, long-term event, without putting too much pressure on the public. This year, if the event raises 9 million euros, it will be fantastic. And these figures still represent considerable sums for the associations.