ElevenLabs for Nonprofits: AI Voice Generation & Text-to-Speech
Transform your nonprofit's accessibility and reach with AI-powered voice generation that speaks 70+ languages, clones voices with emotional accuracy, and makes content accessible to everyone—from audiobooks and podcasts to multilingual patient education and audio descriptions for the visually impaired.
What It Does (The Problem It Solves)
Need to make your annual report accessible to blind supporters, but professional voiceover costs $2,000? Want to translate your impact video into Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic without hiring multiple voice actors? Struggling to create audiobooks of your educational materials because studio recording takes weeks and thousands of dollars?
ElevenLabs uses advanced AI to generate natural-sounding human voices from text in over 70 languages. Unlike robotic text-to-speech tools from the past, ElevenLabs produces voices with authentic emotional intonation, proper pacing, and contextual awareness—listeners often can't tell the difference from a human narrator.
More importantly, ElevenLabs can clone specific voices from just minutes of audio, allowing you to create consistent branded content, help individuals with speech impairments communicate in their own voice, or produce multilingual content that maintains the original speaker's vocal characteristics. The platform processes over 1 million hours of localized audio annually, democratizing professional voice production for organizations without Hollywood budgets.
Best For
Organization Size
- All sizes (free tier or Impact Program for qualifying orgs)
- Healthcare, education, and cultural nonprofits (Impact Program priority)
- Organizations serving multilingual communities
Best Use Cases
- Creating accessible audio versions of reports, case studies, blog posts
- Producing multilingual content (patient education, program materials)
- Audiobooks, podcasts, audio guides, oral history preservation
- Supporting individuals with speech impairments or visual disabilities
Ideal For
- Communications Directors needing accessible content
- Program Managers serving multilingual populations
- Educators creating audio learning materials
- Healthcare nonprofits with patient education needs
Key Features for Nonprofits
Professional Voice Cloning
Create consistent, branded audio content or preserve individual voices
Clone any voice from just 1-5 minutes of audio (Instant Voice Cloning) or achieve near-perfect replication with 30+ minutes (Professional Voice Cloning). A healthcare nonprofit could clone their CEO's voice to narrate patient education videos consistently, or help an ALS patient preserve their voice before losing the ability to speak—allowing them to continue communicating in their own voice using text-to-speech.
- Instant Cloning: 1-5 minutes of audio, rapid turnaround for consistent content
- Professional Cloning: 30+ minutes of audio, indistinguishable from original voice
- Emotional Preservation: Maintains tone, pacing, and emotional characteristics
70+ Languages with Multilingual Support
Reach global audiences without hiring translators and voice actors for each language
The Eleven v3 model supports over 70 languages, while Multilingual v2 covers 32 major languages including Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi, French, German, Japanese, and more. Conversational AI supports 31 languages collectively spoken by ~90% of the world's population. An immigrant services nonprofit could automatically generate patient intake instructions in Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Arabic—all from a single English script—saving thousands in translation and voiceover costs.
- Processes 1M+ hours of localized audio annually across languages
- Natural-sounding pronunciation and contextual understanding in each language
- AI dubbing preserves original voice characteristics across languages
Emotionally-Aware Speech Synthesis
AI that understands context and delivers appropriate emotional tone
Unlike robotic text-to-speech, ElevenLabs' AI analyzes text for emotional context and adjusts intonation, pacing, and emphasis accordingly. The result is audio that sounds genuinely human—conveying empathy in donor thank-you messages, urgency in advocacy campaigns, or warmth in volunteer recognition. This emotional authenticity makes your audio content far more engaging and trustworthy.
- Contextual awareness: AI adjusts tone based on content meaning
- Natural pacing with appropriate pauses and emphasis
- Listeners often can't distinguish from human narration in blind tests
One-Click Audiobook & Podcast Creation
Generate entire audiobooks or podcasts automatically from written content
Upload a written document (case study, curriculum, research report) and ElevenLabs can generate a complete audiobook with a single click. Author Leeanna Morgan produced 20+ audiobooks saving $85,000 in traditional production costs. Perplexity uses ElevenLabs to voice their daily AI-generated podcast "Discover Daily." An education nonprofit could turn their entire curriculum into audiobooks for students with reading disabilities—completing in hours what would take weeks in a recording studio.
- Launch on ElevenReader app (iOS/Android) at zero cost
- Distribute to Spotify, Rakuten Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and other platforms
- Multiple voice styles and narrator options to match content tone
Accessibility-First Features
Built specifically to support individuals with speech and vision disabilities
ElevenLabs provides free licenses through their Impact Program to individuals with permanent voice loss (5-year renewable Pro license for MND/ALS, PSP, MS, stroke, cancer, laryngectomy patients) and blind/low-vision individuals (1-year renewable ElevenReader Ultra license). Screen reader compatible and designed with accessibility standards in mind. Partnerships with National Federation of the Blind, Bridging Voice, Scott-Morgan Foundation, and MND Association demonstrate commitment to accessibility.
- Enables individuals to communicate using their own cloned voice after losing speech
- ElevenReader provides natural read-aloud for visually impaired users
- Free Impact Program for nonprofits serving accessibility needs
Powerful API for Custom Integrations
Integrate AI voice generation directly into your applications and workflows
For nonprofits with technical capacity, the ElevenLabs API allows ultra-low latency voice generation, multiple voice styles, and scalable integration into apps, chatbots, and automated workflows. Developer-friendly with extensive documentation, LangChain and LlamaIndex integrations, and active Discord community support. A crisis hotline nonprofit could integrate AI voices into their chatbot to provide 24/7 multilingual support, or a museum could programmatically generate audio tour descriptions in 70+ languages.
- REST API with comprehensive documentation and SDKs
- Ultra-low latency for real-time conversational AI applications
- Active developer community on Discord for technical support
Real-World Nonprofit Use Case
A regional immigrant services nonprofit serving refugees from 12 countries struggled with patient education materials. Their health literacy guides were only available in English, despite 70% of clients speaking Spanish, Arabic, Somali, or Mandarin as their primary language. Translating written materials cost $15,000 annually, but producing audio versions in multiple languages would cost an additional $40,000—far beyond their budget.
After discovering ElevenLabs' Impact Program, they applied and received a free 12-month license. Within the first month, they:
- Converted 15 health education documents into audio in 8 languages (Spanish, Arabic, Somali, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Nepali, Dari, and French)
- Cloned their health educator's voice to create consistent, trustworthy audio across all materials
- Created an audio library accessible via QR codes on printed materials and their website
- Produced an automated voicemail system offering health appointment reminders in clients' preferred languages
Results after 6 months:
- 42% increase in patients who reported understanding health instructions
- Saved $40,000 in professional voiceover costs (which would have been unaffordable anyway)
- Reduced staff time on verbal translation during appointments by 30% (patients arrived already informed)
- Created audio materials in 90 hours of staff time vs. estimated 400+ hours for traditional recording
The health educator noted: "Our Somali clients told us they finally felt heard—literally. Being able to listen to health information in their own language, in a voice they recognize and trust, made all the difference. This isn't just translation; it's dignified, accessible healthcare education."
Pricing
Standard Pricing
| Plan | Price | Credits/Month | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10,000 characters (~10 minutes) | Testing, micro-projects, very small orgs |
| Starter | $5/month or $50/year | 30,000 characters (~30 minutes) | Small nonprofits, monthly content creation |
| Creator | $11/month (50% off first month) | 100,000 characters (~100 minutes) | Regular audio content, voice cloning, 192 kbps quality |
| Pro | $330/month | 2,000,000 characters | High-volume content, professional projects |
| Business | $13,200/year | Custom | Enterprise nonprofits, large-scale deployments |
Annual Savings: Annual plans include 2 months free (e.g., Starter plan is $50/year vs $60 if paid monthly).
Free Tier Details: The free plan provides 10,000 credits monthly (approximately 10 minutes of audio). This is useful for basic testing but insufficient for regular content production. Credits reset monthly.
Paid Features: Paid tiers include commercial license, instant voice cloning, access to Studio and Dubbing API, pro-grade voice quality, and 192 kbps audio on Creator and above.
Nonprofit Impact Program
Free licenses for qualifying nonprofits and individuals with accessibility needs
For Nonprofit Organizations:
FREE 12-month renewable ElevenLabs license for nonprofits working in healthcare, education, or culture sectors.
How to Access:
- Visit elevenlabs.io/impact-program
- Complete the Impact Partnership Application
- Demonstrate your work in healthcare, education, or culture
- License is renewable annually
For Individuals with Accessibility Needs:
- Permanent Voice Loss: FREE 5-year renewable Pro license for individuals with MND/ALS, PSP, MS, stroke, mouth/throat cancer, laryngectomy, or other conditions causing voice loss
- Blind/Low-Vision: FREE 1-year renewable ElevenReader Ultra license for individuals who are blind or have low vision
Apply through the same Impact Program page. ElevenLabs partners with National Federation of the Blind, Bridging Voice, Scott-Morgan Foundation, and MND Association to support these communities.
Educational Discount:
Students and educators with valid .edu or school-issued email addresses can access expanded free plans. Must be 16+ for ElevenReader, 18+ for ElevenLabs. Available globally (eligibility varies by school domain). For new users only. Visit elevenlabs.io/students to apply.
Estimated Value: Impact Program license provides access to features worth $60-330+/month for free. For a nonprofit using the equivalent of the Creator plan, this saves $1,320+ annually.
*Note: Pricing information is subject to change. Please verify current pricing and Impact Program eligibility directly with ElevenLabs at elevenlabs.io/pricing and elevenlabs.io/impact-program.
Learning Curve
Rating: Beginner-Friendly
ElevenLabs is designed to be accessible to non-technical users. The interface is intuitive—paste text, select a voice, and generate audio. You can create your first piece of audio content within minutes of signing up.
Time to First Value
- Account setup: 2-3 minutes (email signup)
- First audio generation: 5-10 minutes (paste text, select voice, generate)
- Voice cloning setup: 15-30 minutes (record/upload audio samples, process)
- Proficiency: 2-4 hours of regular use to master advanced features
Technical Requirements
- No technical skills required for basic use
- Comfort with copy-pasting text and uploading files
- Basic audio recording knowledge helpful for voice cloning
- API integration requires developer/technical staff
Support Available
- Extensive Documentation: Comprehensive guides at elevenlabs.io/docs covering all features
- Video Tutorials: Official tutorial library covering basic to advanced use cases
- Active Community: Discord server with thousands of users and ElevenLabs staff
- API Resources: Complete API documentation, SDKs, and developer support for technical implementations
- Impact Program Support: Dedicated support for nonprofit partners through the Impact Program
Integration & Compatibility
Developer Integrations
- API: RESTful API with ultra-low latency for custom integrations
- LangChain: Direct integration for AI application development
- LlamaIndex: Integration for data-augmented LLM applications
- Webhooks: Real-time notifications for audio generation completion
Platform Availability
- Web-based: Access from any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- Mobile Apps: ElevenReader available on iOS and Android
- Desktop: No desktop app required; fully browser-based
- API Access: Integrate into custom applications and workflows
Data Portability & Export
- Audio Export: Download generated audio in MP3 and WAV formats
- Commercial License: Paid subscribers own generated audio and can use commercially
- Distribution: Launch audiobooks on Spotify, Rakuten Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and more
- Voice Cloning Data: Cloned voice models remain accessible as long as subscription is active
- ⚠️Vendor Lock-in Consideration: Cloned voice models are proprietary and cannot be exported to other platforms
Developer Resources
- Documentation: Comprehensive API docs at elevenlabs.io/docs
- Discord Community: Active developer community with 10,000+ members and ElevenLabs engineers
- Code Examples: Sample implementations and starter code available
- Rate Limits: Generous API rate limits on paid plans; contact support for high-volume needs
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free Impact Program: Qualifying nonprofits in healthcare, education, culture get completely free 12-month renewable licenses—saving $1,320-$3,960+ annually
- Exceptional Voice Quality: Emotionally aware, natural-sounding voices that listeners often can't distinguish from human narration
- Extensive Multilingual Support: 70+ languages with Eleven v3, enabling global reach without hiring multiple voice actors
- Accessibility-Focused: Purpose-built features for individuals with speech impairments and visual disabilities; partnerships with leading advocacy organizations
- Time Savings: Generate hours of audio in minutes vs. days of studio recording; author saved $85,000 producing 20+ audiobooks
- User-Friendly: Intuitive interface that non-technical users can master within minutes; no coding required for basic use
- Powerful API: Extensive developer tools and integrations (LangChain, LlamaIndex) for custom implementations
Cons
- ⚠️Limited Free Tier: Only 10,000 characters/month (~10 minutes of audio) on free plan; insufficient for regular content production
- ⚠️Credits System Can Be Confusing: Character-based pricing rather than time-based can be hard to estimate; easy to use credits faster than expected
- ⚠️Impact Program Limited Scope: Only available to nonprofits in healthcare, education, or culture sectors—other worthy causes must pay standard pricing
- ⚠️Expensive for High-Volume: Costs scale quickly beyond free tier; Fish Audio offers better quality-to-price ratio at $9.99/mo for 200 minutes
- ⚠️Vendor Lock-in: Cloned voice models are proprietary and can't be exported to other platforms; you lose access if subscription lapses
- ⚠️Quality Depends on Input: Voice cloning quality is only as good as the audio samples you provide; poor recordings = poor clones
- ⚠️Ethical Concerns: Voice cloning technology requires careful ethical consideration and consent protocols to prevent misuse
Alternatives to Consider
If ElevenLabs doesn't feel like the right fit (or if you don't qualify for the Impact Program and need a more affordable option), consider:
Fish Audio (OpenAudio S1)
Best quality-to-price ratio, often better than ElevenLabs
Pricing: $9.99/month for 200 minutes or $15 per 1M characters (vs ElevenLabs' $330 for 2M characters).
Fish Audio achieved the #1 ranking on TTS-Arena for AI text-to-speech models and in many cases offers quality that's actually better than ElevenLabs at 80% less cost. This makes it the most affordable option for nonprofits needing high-quality voice generation without the free Impact Program.
Choose Fish Audio if: You need excellent voice quality at a budget price and don't qualify for ElevenLabs Impact Program. Best for nonprofits with moderate audio production needs (100-200+ minutes/month).
Chatterbox (Open Source)
100% free, MIT-licensed, outperformed ElevenLabs in blind tests
Pricing: Completely free for commercial use (MIT license).
Chatterbox is an open-source AI text-to-speech model that outperformed ElevenLabs in blind tests—63.8% of listeners preferred Chatterbox's output. For nonprofits that absolutely need a 100% free solution for commercial use and have technical capacity to implement open-source tools, Chatterbox is the best option.
Choose Chatterbox if: You need completely free voice generation, have technical staff who can implement open-source solutions, or want to avoid vendor lock-in. Requires more setup than ElevenLabs but offers unlimited use at no cost.
Speechify
Accessibility-focused with strong mobile integration for reading challenges
Focus: Specifically designed for individuals with dyslexia and other reading challenges.
Speechify is particularly beneficial for individuals with dyslexia, ADHD, and reading disabilities, with reliable mobile app integration for on-the-go accessibility. Unlike ElevenLabs which focuses on voice generation for content creation, Speechify excels at making existing written content accessible through read-aloud features.
Choose Speechify if: Your primary need is making written content accessible to individuals with reading challenges rather than producing original audio content. Better for educational contexts than multimedia production.
ReadSpeaker
Enterprise text-to-speech for websites, apps, and educational institutions
Features: 50+ languages, website/app integration, educational focus.
ReadSpeaker serves businesses, educational institutions, and developers with smooth integration into websites and apps. Particularly strong for organizations needing to make web content accessible to users with literacy difficulties, visual impairments, or those learning new languages. More enterprise-focused than ElevenLabs.
Choose ReadSpeaker if: You need to add text-to-speech directly to your website or educational platform, serve users with visual impairments or literacy challenges, or require enterprise-level support and SLAs.
Why You Might Choose ElevenLabs Instead
- Free Impact Program: If you qualify (healthcare, education, culture nonprofit), ElevenLabs is completely free for 12 months (renewable)—unbeatable value
- Superior Voice Cloning: More sophisticated voice cloning than any alternative, essential for maintaining brand voice consistency
- 70+ Languages: More extensive multilingual support than Fish Audio, Speechify, or ReadSpeaker
- Accessibility Mission: Purpose-built partnerships with disability advocacy organizations and proven commitment to accessibility community
- Ease of Use: More user-friendly than Chatterbox (no technical setup), more versatile than Speechify (creation vs. consumption)
Getting Started
Your first steps with ElevenLabs:
1Determine Eligibility & Sign Up (15 minutes)
If you qualify for Impact Program: Visit elevenlabs.io/impact-program and complete the application. You'll need to demonstrate your nonprofit's work in healthcare, education, or culture. Approval typically takes 1-2 weeks, after which you'll receive a free 12-month license.
If you don't qualify: Sign up for the free tier at elevenlabs.io to test with 10,000 characters/month, or start a paid plan ($5/mo Starter for 30,000 characters).
Pro tip: Start with the free tier to test voice quality and features before committing to a paid plan or applying for Impact Program.
2Create Your First Audio (10 minutes)
Navigate to the Speech Synthesis page, paste 2-3 paragraphs of text (a blog post intro, donor thank-you message, or program description), select a voice from the library that matches your content tone (professional, warm, energetic, etc.), and click "Generate."
Listen to the result and compare different voices. Download your favorite as an MP3 file.
Pro tip: Test 3-5 different voices with the same text to find the one that best represents your organization's brand. Save your favorites for future use.
3Try Voice Cloning (30 minutes)
Record 1-5 minutes of clear audio from someone in your organization (your CEO, program director, or a community member). Ensure good audio quality: quiet room, minimal background noise, consistent volume. Upload to ElevenLabs' Voice Cloning feature and let the AI process it (takes 2-5 minutes).
Test the cloned voice by generating a short message in that person's voice. Evaluate quality and decide if you need Professional Voice Cloning (30+ minutes of audio) for even better results.
Pro tip: For best voice cloning results, use audio with varied sentences (questions, statements, emotional range) rather than monotone reading. The more natural emotion in the sample, the better the clone.
4Create Multilingual Content (1 hour)
Select a short but important document (program brochure, health education handout, welcome message) and translate it into 2-3 languages your community speaks. Use the translated text to generate audio in each language using ElevenLabs' multilingual voices.
Compare the quality across languages and share with native speakers for feedback. Create a simple audio library on your website or distribute via QR codes on printed materials.
Pro tip: For languages with limited quality in AI voices, consider using the Dubbing API to translate and maintain your original speaker's voice characteristics across languages—more authentic than generic multilingual voices.
Quick Win: Your First 24 Hours
Want to see immediate value? Try this simple experiment:
- Take your most recent blog post, case study, or impact story (15 minutes)
- Generate an audio version using ElevenLabs' free tier (5 minutes)
- Add the audio player to your blog post or email it to supporters (10 minutes)
- Track engagement: how many people listen vs. how many typically read? (ongoing)
What you'll learn:
Whether audio content increases engagement with your audience. Most nonprofits see 20-40% higher engagement when offering both text and audio versions—making content accessible to commuters, individuals with visual impairments, and those who prefer listening.
Time invested: 30 minutes
Potential insight: Worth hundreds of hours of A/B testing and accessibility improvements
Need Implementation Support?
Setting up AI voice generation and figuring out which use cases will provide the most value can feel overwhelming, especially when you're already stretched thin serving your community. If you'd like expert guidance getting started with ElevenLabs—from applying for the Impact Program to designing your first multilingual audio library—we're here to help.
One Hundred Nights offers implementation support, from quick setup assistance and voice cloning best practices to full-service audiobook production and accessibility consulting.
Contact Us to Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Is ElevenLabs free for nonprofits?
ElevenLabs offers a free Impact Program for qualifying nonprofits working in healthcare, education, or culture. Eligible organizations receive a free, renewable 12-month ElevenLabs license. Organizations that don't qualify can use the standard free tier (10,000 characters/month) or paid plans starting at $5/month.
How do I apply for the ElevenLabs Impact Program?
Visit elevenlabs.io/impact-program and complete the Impact Partnership Application. Your nonprofit must work in healthcare, education, or culture sectors. If approved, you'll receive a free 12-month renewable license. The program also provides free licenses to individuals with permanent voice loss (5-year renewable Pro license) or who are blind/low-vision (1-year renewable ElevenReader Ultra license).
How many languages does ElevenLabs support?
ElevenLabs supports over 70 languages with their Eleven v3 model, making it one of the most comprehensive multilingual AI voice platforms. The Multilingual v2 model supports 32 languages including Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic, Hindi, and many more. The Conversational AI feature supports 31 languages collectively spoken by approximately 90% of the world's population.
What is voice cloning and how does it work in ElevenLabs?
ElevenLabs offers two types of voice cloning: Instant Voice Cloning (requires 1-5 minutes of audio and creates a voice replica quickly) and Professional Voice Cloning (requires 30+ minutes of audio and produces nearly indistinguishable quality from the original voice). This allows nonprofits to create consistent branded audio content or help individuals with speech impairments communicate using their own voice.
Can ElevenLabs be used for audiobooks and podcasts?
Yes, ElevenLabs is widely used for audiobooks and podcasts. Romance writer Leeanna Morgan has produced over 20 audiobooks saving around $85,000, and Perplexity uses ElevenLabs to voice their popular "Discover Daily" podcast. Users can generate entire audiobooks with a single click and launch them on the ElevenReader iOS and Android app at zero cost, or distribute on platforms like Spotify, Rakuten Kobo, and Barnes & Noble.
What are the best alternatives to ElevenLabs for nonprofits?
For budget-conscious nonprofits, consider Fish Audio ($9.99/month for 200 minutes with quality that often exceeds ElevenLabs at 80% less cost), Chatterbox (completely free, open-source MIT-licensed solution that 63.8% of listeners preferred in blind tests), Speechify (accessibility-focused with strong mobile integration for individuals with dyslexia and reading challenges), or ReadSpeaker (supports 50+ languages with smooth integration for educational institutions). ElevenLabs is best when you need the Impact Program's free license, superior voice quality, or extensive API capabilities.
Resources
Official Resources
Learning Resources
- Complete Documentation
- Use Cases & Examples
- Voice Cloning Deep Dive Guide
- AI Models & Capabilities
- Discord Community (active developer support)
Developer Resources
- Developer Platform & API
- API Documentation
- LangChain Integration Guides
- LlamaIndex Integration Support
Ready to Make Your Content Accessible to Everyone?
Whether you qualify for the free Impact Program or need to start with the free tier, ElevenLabs can transform how your nonprofit communicates—reaching multilingual communities, supporting accessibility needs, and creating professional audio content without the Hollywood budget.