Frequently Asked Questions
Why can sponsors not speak at a TEDx events?
At all TED/TEDx events there is a clear division between sponsorship and editorial. Allowing a sponsor to speak at your TEDx event will severely compromise the integrity of your whole event and the whole TEDx program. Allowing a sponsor to present at your TEDx event will prevent your TEDx license from being renewed.
Is there anything I must do before approaching potential partners?
Before you approach any potential partner, you must submit their names for approval. We suggest that you make a complete list of all the sponsors you'd like to approach and send it to us at one time. This will facilitate your planning process and speed up our response time. Fill in this Google Form with the list of sponsors you would like to submit for approval.
Can I fill out the sponsor application form more than once?
We would prefer you submit all potential sponsors for approval in one request, however we recognize that additional opportunities may surface as you plan your event. If you need to, you can submit the sponsor form more than once.
Does TED financially support TEDx events?
No. TED Conferences and TEDx do not financially support any events. All funding is self-organized.
Can TEDx organizers benefit from a non-profit status?
Yes. How you set your TEDx event's finances and accounting system depends on where you live, as rules differ from country to country. You can set up a nonprofit or run your event through an existing nonprofit. If you do set up a nonprofit, we ask that you do not call it anything related to TED, TEDx or TEDx[name]. You must pick a separate and distinct name for your nonprofit. You may also consider managing your TEDx event through an existing nonprofit.
Can I run my event through an existing non-profit?
Yes. However, rules around this differ from country to country. Note that your event cannot be a fundraiser for the non-profit.
Can my event be used to make money?
No. TEDx events may not be used to turn a profit. All proceeds from your TEDx event must go into your TEDx event. If there are funds left over, invest them in your next TEDx event, in a TEDx event in a developing country, or consider donating to a school to host a TEDx event.
Can I use my event as a fundraiser?
No. You may not use TEDx events to raise money for any causes or charities. All money must go into direction and production costs for the TEDx event itself.
Can the proceeds of my event go toward a nonprofit cause?
No. TEDx events cannot be used towards fundraising. All the money raised must go to direct production costs for your TEDx event.
Can I accept funding for my event from my speakers?
No. You are never allowed to accept money from someone that will be speaking on stage. If you choose to accept funding from a scheduled speaker you must cancel his or her presentation.
Should we pay our speakers?
TED does not pay its speakers, and we ask that you do the same. However, we do encourage reimbursing your speakers for their airfare and hotel costs (if applicable).
Can I get paid for organizing a TEDx event?
No. The license holder of a TEDx event may not derive a salary or be paid for his or her work organizing an event. All TEDx events are organized independently and voluntarily because of an indivdual's passion for "ideas worth spreading." However, this does not apply to vendors working on an event.
Can I charge people to come to my event?
In the spirit of TED's mission of "Ideas Worth Spreading," we encourage that your event be free to attendees. The TEDx team may approve charging nominal admission on a case-by-case basis. Any fees charged must go directly to production costs of the event. If you want to charge for your event, you must seek approval by emailing tedx@ted.com. The ticket price for your event may not exceed $100 per attendee.
Can TEDx organizers form a group to approach sponsors by region?
Yes. TEDx organizers can gather by region and approach regional sponsors. We suggest creating a theme or motivation so that sponsors can underwrite a number of TEDx events under one generous partnership.
Does TED have a list of sponsors I can approach in my region?
TED does not have an official list of sponsors. Instead, we encourage TEDx organizers to share and recommend sponsorship-related information on existing TEDx community networks. See your license approval email for details on the networks available to you as a licensee. Organizers can also be directly contacted through the TEDx event profiles. On the right side of the page, find the link to "Send an email" under the picture of the organizer. (Visit this page for a short list of in-kind partnerships available to TEDx organizers.)
Can larger TEDx events help support smaller TEDx events?
Yes. Collaborations like this can happen on a case-by-case basis. If you're interested in receiving or lending support, use existing TEDx networks to find interested parties. See your license approval email for details on the community networks available to you as a licensee. Organizers can also be directly contacted through the TEDx event profiles. On the right side of the page you will see a link to "Send An Email" under his or her picture.
Can TEDx organizers have sponsor logos on stage?
Organizers may only feature one or two brief slides with sponsor logos on the TEDx stage, and only during the short time when they are thanking their sponsors.
Without any permanent place for sponsor logos on the main stage, what kind of exposure can we give to our sponsors at the event?
Be as creative as possible and explore the spaces outside of the main stage. Create social spaces where you can offer an experience tied to your sponsor(s). Encourage genuine interaction between sponsors and attendees outside of the theater through product demos, sponsor-hosted lunches or dinners, samples and general conversation.
How can we use our sponsors' logo?
Sponsor logos must never compete with the TEDx logo. They cannot be larger than your TEDx event logo, and they must not be placed directly next to your TEDx event logo. For example, if creating a bag with a sponsor logo, the sponsor's logo must be placed on the opposite side of the bag to your TEDx logo, and it must still be smaller in size. In general, we ask that your sponsor logos are placed/designed in a tasteful manner.
Here are a few ways you can use a sponsor's logo:
- One side of the gift bag. Note that the sponsor's logo cannot be on the same side as the TEDx logo.
- Inside the program guide (inner full page, half page or mention). Front or back pages of the guide should not be dedicated to sponsorships. If your TEDx program is only one page, you may place the sponsor logo on bottom of page, but it must be significantly smaller than your TEDx logo.
- On mugs, t-shirts, etc. However, the sponsor logo must never be on the same side as and must always be smaller than the TEDx event logo.
- On a designated partner page on your website. However, a sponsor cannot be featured on the homepage of your website.
- On volunteer t-shirts. As with other t-shirts, the sponsor logo should be placed on the opposite side of the t-shirt to the TEDx event logo.
- On gift bag items. Use gift bags to distribute any sponsor giveaways that carry branding elements.
- There should be no logo on the live stream video, with the possible exception of the TEDx event logo.
Can we sell mugs, t-shirts or posters at our event?
Yes. Sales of TEDx products are fine, as long as it is at your event only, never online, or before or after your event. Sales from products should go back into your event, and never to fundraise or to benefit causes.
Can we give sponsors exposure on stage?
You can thank your sponsors on stage and show their logos on brief slides (if appropriate) at the end of the event and during breaks. You may also have sponsors' slides rotating on stage during the breaks. However, there must not be any permanent display of a sponsor's logo on a TEDx stage.
How do we treat sponsors logos on programs?
Sponsor logos should not be featured on the front page or back page of the program guide. Instead, it's best to create a page inside the guide dedicated to partners. As with all other materials, these sponsor logos should always be smaller than your TEDx event logo on the same document.
What kind of language should we use when acknowledging sponsors?
Some suggested language for introducing sponsors would be:
- Here is a list of sponsors who helped ...
- Our generous partners are ...
Language such as "TEDx[name] is brought to you by [sponsor]" is not preferred.
Can we mention sponsors during interviews on the radio or TV?
No. Sponsors should not be mentioned during press interviews. Press attention should be used to promote the event. Sponsors can be acknowledged at the event.
Can we thank or mention sponsors on our Facebook page, Twitter account or other social media?
No. TEDx social media networks must not be used to promote sponsors. Do not tweet or post on Facebook about your sponsors.
Sponsors may use their social media channels to announce the partnership if they desire. This announcement must include your specific event logo, as the sponsor is not a supporter of the TEDx program as a whole.
Sponsor logos on your videos:
Sponsor logos may only be shown on one slide at the beginning and end of each video. This slide must be 3 seconds long at maximum and adhere to our official sponsorship slide template. There may only be a single slide in your video to feature all of your sponsor logos. Sponsor logos may not appear anywhere else in the video. If you have multiple sponsors you must feature all of your sponsor logos on the one slide. Never superimpose your event logo or a sponsor logo over the speaker's talk or slides. Never feature rolling credits.
How can we use sponsor signage at and around the venues?
Sponsor signage must be placed outside the event auditorium on the day of the event. As with all other signage, the TEDx event logo must always be larger than sponsor logos, and must not be displayed on the same side. However, any signage used to promote the event throughout your local city or town should not include sponsor logos.
Can sponsors create handouts for the event?
As part of the gift bag. Not in the theater or simulcast area. Must be in designated sponsor area/booth. Not on seating.
Can we give sponsors exposure in simulcast areas?
Sponsors can be given some exposure in simulcast areas of your event. However sponsor products should be displayed tastefully. It's best to offer useful sponsor products, like snacks, beverages or 3D glasses, but no signage is allowed. Any sponsor products must be provided free of charge to attendees.
Can sponsors hold competitions around TEDx events‚ to give away tickets, for example?
No. Any competitions or initiatives held in concert with a TEDx event must remain under the control of the TEDx organizer.
Can we hold book signings or other speaker-related events at our TEDx?
No. Book signings count as product promotions and cannot be held at a TEDx event. If you would like to hold a book signing or another event honoring a speaker or featuring a sponsor, please do so before or after your TEDx event and allow interested attendees to opt in.