Free Speakers for Chicago Area Events, Clubs & Organizations
FreeSpeakers.org is the #1 source for pro bono speakers in Chicago. All speakers present programs at no cost. Nada. Nothing. Zip. There is no charge to any group. Ever. Not from the speaker and not from us.
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.
Free Speakers Chicago officially launched in the Spring of 1996, with a handful of speakers. Feedback in the Chicagoland community has been exceptional and we now boast hundreds of speakers and topics available for groups.
Free Speakers History
The founder of FreeSpeakers.org is Ginny Richardson, president of Ginny Richardson Public Relations. From her work as a journalist and publicist, she 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 a list of speakers in the U.S. mail to clubs, chambers, Rotary and Kiwanis groups, churches, etc. Requests began to multiply.
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 Tribune’s sections, and within days, the little speaker’s bureau exploded.
The bureau was run through fax and was truly no-cost service for all. It is a labor of love for Ginny and her team.
Expanding Free Speakers into the Future with Technology
As technology evolved, the speaker’s bureau outgrew the fax machine and moved to the internet. Expenses for web development, hosting, security, and ongoing maintenance increased considerably. After years of running the bureau out-of-pocket, it was decided to assess speakers a modest membership fee to cover the growing costs. There is still no charge from FreeSpeakers.org to the club or group, nor can the speaker charge the group, not even mileage.
Andy Richardson, Ginny’s son, joined the project in 2002. He now serves as Executive Director and is responsible for new city expansion, managing the speaker success team, and daily operations. Read about Andy and what drives his passion for service.
In 2016, on the 20th anniversary of the bureau, Free Speakers launched it’s first sister speaker’s bureau in Milwaukee. Indianapolis was quick to follow, and we now provide free speakers in the following cities: