How to host a Speakers Bureau talk:

Step 1. Choose a talk you would like to host from the current speakers list or in our printed catalog.

Step 2. Review our host requirements (listed below) to determine if your organization is eligible to host a Speakers Bureau event. To be considered for funding, you must be a nonprofit organization (e.g., library, historical society, museum, social-service organization, place of worship, or community center) or a K-12 school, college, or university.

Step 3. Contact our program manager at speakers@humanities.org or 206-682-1770 ext. 101. Tell them the speaker(s) you are interested in hosting, and be prepared to review your organization’s eligibility for funding.

Step 4. Contact the speaker to propose a date and time for the program.

Step 5. Apply to host a speaker. Once you and the speaker agree on a date and time for the talk, you will officially apply online using this link. Keep in mind that funding for Speakers Bureau talks is limited. You may submit applications for Speakers Bureau programs according to the following time frame:

Applications can be submitted year-round and will be reviewed according to the above timeline. Applications will be reviewed within two weeks of the deadlines.For example, applications due on October 31, 2019 will receive decisions by November 15, 2019.

If you require earlier review due to your organization’s promotional needs, please contact the program manager directly.

Host organizations may receive funding for up to three presentations per year; hosts may book additional Speakers Bureau presentations if funded directly by your organization. If you are not approved for a talk, you may be eligible to host the talk at your own expense. See below for more information about Paid by Host events.

Helpful Links:

Learn about our speakers

Apply to host a Speakers Bureau event

Find upcoming events 

View resources for Speakers Bureau hosts

Host Requirements:

To be eligible for funding from Humanities Washington, the applicant must be a nonprofit organization (e.g., library, historical society, museum, social-service organization, or community center) or a K-12 school, college, or university.

All Speakers Bureau events must meet the following criteria:

• Make the Speakers Bureau event free and open to the public.
• Allow at least one hour for each presentation, including sufficient time for conversation. Ninety minutes is ideal.
• Generate publicity for the program, and secure an audience of at least 30 people (Humanities Washington will provide a toolkit to help promote the event). Any publicity costs are the responsibility of the host organization.
• Complete a short online evaluation after the presentation.
• Return audience surveys to Humanities Washington within two weeks of presentation.
• Cover travel and lodging expenses of the speaker, if applicable. These costs might include mileage (we recommend using the federal standard mileage rate), car rental, airfare, meals during the visit, ferry tickets, or overnight accommodations. Please discuss these fees with the speaker in advance, and ask if the speaker requires any special equipment or arrangements. Humanities Washington covers the speaker’s stipend.

Unable to cover travel costs? Travel subsidies are available.

Travel Subsidies:

Because some organizations find it financially difficult to cover travel costs, travel subsidies are available for qualifying organizations. These travel subsidies are meant to bring Speakers Bureau presentations to communities that would be otherwise unable to host them. If approved for a travel subsidy, Humanities Washington will directly reimburse the speaker up to $300 for travel expenses. Anything above that amount will be the responsibility of the host organization.

To be eligible for a travel subsidy, a host organization must be:

• Located 100 miles or more from the resident city of the speaker (exceptions may be made in situations involving mountain pass or ferry travel that necessitate an overnight stay).
• A community-based nonprofit organization with limited resources for public humanities programming.

Please note that travel subsidies are limited and not guaranteed.

Within the online application form to host a Speakers Bureau event, there is an opportunity to apply for the travel subsidy and explain your organization’s needs for this funding.

Paid by Host:

If your organization prefers to fund the speaking fees and travel costs rather than apply for funding, you may follow our Paid by Host model.

This event model may be preferred when:

• Your organization has already received funding from Humanities Washington to host three events in a given year, but you want to host more speakers.
• The application deadline has passed for an event your organization is interested in hosting.
• Your organization does not qualify for funding from Humanities Washington (i.e. a for-profit or private organization).
• Your organization has allocated a budget to host this programming and you would prefer that Humanities Washington’s limited funds be provided to other state partners.
• Your original application was not approved for funding and meets all the above host requirements.

All of the above host requirements listed apply to any Speakers Bureau event, regardless of funding source. For Paid by Host events, organizations must:

• Make the event free and open to the public
• properly credit Humanities Washington in promotional materials and at the event
• Submit audience evaluations after the event.

All speakers are paid $300 per presentation, and their travel and lodging expenses must be covered. These payments are made directly to the speaker.

Please follow the same steps to host a Speakers Bureau talk (listed above), including the submission of an online application. Explain within your application that you plan to pay the speaker directly. Applications will be reviewed within three business days of submission and approved if all host requirements can be met.