Speaker Events
A great way to rouse interest in OFTW at your campus is to host a speaker. Speakers could speak about global poverty, health crises in the developing world, experiences with ineffective philanthropy, data-driven philanthropy, effective altruism philosophy, etc. Below you will find our guide to running a successful speaker event.
Contents:
- Finding a speaker
- The logistics / best practices
- Effective advertising and outreach
- Follow up after
Finding a speaker:
- The recruitment process for each speaker will be different based on the person, location, and specific circumstances of your chapter.
- Professors will likely be the easiest speakers to recruit, but you may also choose to find speakers from EA-aligned nonprofits or folks working in similar fields.
- Tell them that they could present virtually if that’s easier. (i.e. Project them onto a screen or do a virtual speaker event. However, we think in person events are far more likely to garner interest.)
The logistics / best practices:
- Try reaching out to other OFTW chapters near you to coordinate one large speaker event where other schools and interested members carpool together.
- Reserve a space on campus - make sure the space is easily accessible for all potential attendees and has video presentation capabilities. Historically, chapters have aimed for a room with a 50 + person capacity, but you should aim for more attendees in order to create an exciting atmosphere and build social proof around effective giving!
- Gather attendee information - don’t forget to collect attendee names and emails when they arrive (eg. a table set up at the entrance with two computers for sign in)
- Pictures - make sure someone has been designated to take pictures and videos so they can be posted on your new social media accounts
- Handouts - (optional) print and distribute the "Problem, Solution, what is OFTW?" flyer
- I GIVE ONE % sign - if you haven’t done so already get a “I GIVE ONE %” sign. Here is the
Effective advertising and outreach:
- We recommend posters! Canva is great and easy to make quick posters.
- Send out this Template Email to any and all email lists you can get ahold of. Your own is the must, but also professor’s class lists and other clubs email lists can be great too.
- Your ambassadors! You could ask each of them to bring a +1
- Word of mouth! Don’t be afraid to bring it up with people you are hanging out with or passing in the hallway.
Other Best Practices:
- Have everyone who comes enter their name and email in a computer or two near the entrance
- Follow up with everyone who attends with ways they can become involved with your club:
- Taking the pledge
- Becoming a student ambassador
- Joining your executive board
