Free Speakers Chicago - A Pro Bono Speaker's Bureau

FreeSpeakers.org is a pro bono speaker’s bureau for Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. All speakers give free presentations. This means there is no charge, no honorarium, no mileage costs. This service is 100% FREE to groups needing speakers.

FreeSpeakers.org is the solution for Chambers of Commerce, libraries, Rotary and Kiwanis groups, clubs, retirement communities, churches, etc., who need and want speakers for their programs but who have limited (or no) budgets.

The founder of FreeSpeakers.org is Ginny Richardson of Burr Ridge. From her work at a the Doings newspaper, she had accumulated a vast network of people including program chairmen from organizations. These folks would call and ask if she knew anyone who gave talks for one of their upcoming meetings. Ginny always recommended friends and/or colleagues who had a good topic.

This very casual list of speakers grew. In the spring of 1996, Ginny sent many a mailer to clubs, chambers, Rotary and Kiwanis groups, churches, etc. Requests began to multiply.

The name “Free” was (and remains) sincere. No one made a dime including Ginny, the speaker, the group – no one. She continued her work on this community service project, because she got a bang out of it.

In the summer of 1996, a Chicago Tribune writer heard about the speaker’s bureau. Her story – “Cheap talk for area groups” – ran on the front page of one of the Trib’s sections, and within days, the little speaker’s bureau exploded.

What is surprising is the number of people interested in becoming speakers in the bureau – very high level people, all with experience and willingness to give a talk, unconcerned about the size of the audience or the donated time.

After years of running the bureau out-of-pocket, it was decided to assess speakers a modest membership fee to cover administrative costs. There is still no charge from FreeSpeakers.org to the club or group, nor can the speaker charge the group, not even mileage.