Charles Best
Keynote Speaker: Founder and Former CEO, DonorsChoose.org
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Charles Best Biography
Charles Best leads DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit organization that provides a simple way to address educational inequity. At DonorsChoose.org, public school teachers create classroom project requests and donors can choose the projects they want to support.
Best launched the organization in 2000 out of a Bronx public high school where he taught History. Today, more than 60% of U.S. public schools have at least one teacher who has created a project request on DonorsChoose.org, and more than 1.5 million people have donated $275 million to classroom projects reaching 13 million students.
DonorsChoose.org is one of Oprah Winfrey's "Ultimate Favorite Things" and was featured on the cover of Fast Company as one of the "50 Most Innovative Companies in the World”.
For three years, FORTUNE magazine has named Best to its "40 under 40 hottest rising stars in business.” He's received the John F. Kennedy “New Frontier Award”, which honors young Americans who are changing their communities through public service, and the Jefferson Awards’ “S. Roger Horchow Award for Greatest Public Service by a Private Citizen”.
Best graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Yale College in 1998.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Charles Best and other top speakers and celebrities.
Charles Best Speaking Topics
In launching DonorsChoose.org out of his Bronx classroom, Charles Best pioneered the crowd-funding movement. Today, teachers at half of all the public schools in America have created project requests on DonorsChoose.org, and more than a million people have donated $200 million.
That scale of growth has spurred Charles and his team to tap the power of both crowdfunding and crowdsourcing, making DonorsChoose.org the first charity ever named to Fast Company’s list of the “50 Most Innovative Companies in the World.” Charles explains how the DonorsChoose.org team has:
Opened up a mountain of data so that people can discover what schools most need and which teaching topics are trending, inspiring hundreds of web developers to build apps that engage the public in public schools.
Crowdsourced many aspects of integrity assurance and quality control, a shift that has delivered huge productivity gains as well as cost savings.
Turned DonorsChoose.org into a platform that companies like Google, Facebook, Starbucks, and Chevron are using to do cause marketing, to engage their customers and employees in philanthropy, and to “do well by doing good.”
Charles concludes by giving everyone a DonorsChoose.org gift card (underwritten by his speaker’s fee) to spend on a classroom project of their choice.
Charles shares how, as a 24-year-old teacher at a Bronx high school, he created a model of giving hailed as "the future of philanthropy" by The New York Times. His story covers the high school wrestling coach who inspired him to become a teacher, the most humiliating mistake he ever made getting DonorsChoose.org off the ground, and the most poignant moments, such as the projects teachers created to recover from the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Today, teachers at half of all the public schools in America have created projects on DonorsChoose.org, and more than a million people have given $200 million.
Charles connects this story to the rise of Kickstarter and Etsy, sites that—like DonorsChoose.org—enable anyone to go public with their originality. These sites signal a profound change in how long you have to wait, and who you have to know, and how lucky you have to be, to bring a good idea to life. They represent a new kind of marketplace where gatekeepers no longer stand in your way.
Charles enables the audience to experience this change by giving everyone a DonorsChoose.org gift card (underwritten by his speaker’s fee) to spend on a classroom project of their choice, so they can directly connect with a classroom in need.
Charles Best Videos
How do I book Charles Best to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Charles Best for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Charles Best, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Charles Best or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Charles Best for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Charles Best, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a virtual event is $30,000 - $50,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Charles Best, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Charles Best speak about?
Charles Best is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Non-Profit, Business, Business Leadership, Philosophy, Authors, Inspirational, Social Media, Technology, Marketing, Political, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Leadership, Economy, Finance, History and E-Commerce.
Where does Charles Best travel from?
Charles Best generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Charles Best?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Charles Best for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Charles Best for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Charles Best or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Charles Best is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Impactful Non-Profit, Business and Business Leadership. The estimated speaking fee range to book Charles Best for virtual events is $30,000 - $50,000. Please contact us for live event fees. Charles Best generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Peter Thiel, Jimmy Wales and Sir Richard Branson. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Charles Best for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Charles Best Speaking Topics
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Pushing Intelligence Out to the Edge
In launching DonorsChoose.org out of his Bronx classroom, Charles Best pioneered the crowd-funding movement. Today, teachers at half of all the public schools in America have created project requests on DonorsChoose.org, and more than a million people have donated $200 million.
That scale of growth has spurred Charles and his team to tap the power of both crowdfunding and crowdsourcing, making DonorsChoose.org the first charity ever named to Fast Company’s list of the “50 Most Innovative Companies in the World.” Charles explains how the DonorsChoose.org team has:
Opened up a mountain of data so that people can discover what schools most need and which teaching topics are trending, inspiring hundreds of web developers to build apps that engage the public in public schools.
Crowdsourced many aspects of integrity assurance and quality control, a shift that has delivered huge productivity gains as well as cost savings.
Turned DonorsChoose.org into a platform that companies like Google, Facebook, Starbucks, and Chevron are using to do cause marketing, to engage their customers and employees in philanthropy, and to “do well by doing good.”
Charles concludes by giving everyone a DonorsChoose.org gift card (underwritten by his speaker’s fee) to spend on a classroom project of their choice.
-
No More Gatekeepers
Charles shares how, as a 24-year-old teacher at a Bronx high school, he created a model of giving hailed as "the future of philanthropy" by The New York Times. His story covers the high school wrestling coach who inspired him to become a teacher, the most humiliating mistake he ever made getting DonorsChoose.org off the ground, and the most poignant moments, such as the projects teachers created to recover from the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Today, teachers at half of all the public schools in America have created projects on DonorsChoose.org, and more than a million people have given $200 million.
Charles connects this story to the rise of Kickstarter and Etsy, sites that—like DonorsChoose.org—enable anyone to go public with their originality. These sites signal a profound change in how long you have to wait, and who you have to know, and how lucky you have to be, to bring a good idea to life. They represent a new kind of marketplace where gatekeepers no longer stand in your way.
Charles enables the audience to experience this change by giving everyone a DonorsChoose.org gift card (underwritten by his speaker’s fee) to spend on a classroom project of their choice, so they can directly connect with a classroom in need.
VIDEO
Charles Best Videos
REVIEWS
Charles Best Reviews
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Charles Best represents all that you hope for in a keynote speaker. His work through DonorsChoose.org touches millions of lives – teachers, students, parents, entire communities. His message for our group of public school principals and superintendents was engaging and inspirational. Charles personalized his time with us through research on the schools in Texas and through his interaction – Q&A became planning for next steps for individuals and our organization. We left the session with a renewed sense of purpose in our work.
Unknown - Jul 01 2015
NEWS
Charles Best News
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Charles Best
Charles Best leads DonorsChoose.org, an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers from every corner of ...
FAQS
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How do I book Charles Best to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Charles Best for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Charles Best, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Charles Best or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Charles Best for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Charles Best, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a virtual event is $30,000 - $50,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Charles Best, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Charles Best speak about?
Charles Best is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Non-Profit, Business, Business Leadership, Philosophy, Authors, Inspirational, Social Media, Technology, Marketing, Political, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Leadership, Economy, Finance, History and E-Commerce. -
Where does Charles Best travel from?
Charles Best generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Charles Best?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Charles Best for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Charles Best for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Charles Best or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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