SupporTED is an independent program of the Harnisch Foundation. TED logo used with permission. SupporTED Coaches FAQ

SupporTED Coaches FAQ

Why should I volunteer when TED doesn't seem to have financial difficulties?

The TED Community depends on volunteers. You might be surprised to know that the brilliant TED speakers are volunteers, too. The TEDsters who created the SupporTED Coaching program, Renee Freedman and Ruth Ann Harnisch, are professional coaches with a long history of pro bono service. They saw an opportunity to support the TED Fellows in their world-changing projects. Being a TED Fellow can be an overwhelming experience. For some, the TED experience is the first time they've traveled outside their home country, the first time they've been on an airplane, and for at least one, the first time to stay in a hotel and sleep in the kind of bed to which most people in developed countries are accustomed. Other TED Fellows have very different backgrounds, with prestigious academic degrees and considerable first-world experience. All of the Fellows attend TED as expense-paid guests.

Why should I volunteer for SupporTED when there are so many other places I could contribute my pro bono coaching services?

Coaching a TED Fellow gives you the opportunity to support someone who is engaged in world-changing activities. By the time a person is selected for the TED Fellows Program, he or she has already created or accomplished something remarkable. The TED Fellowship is designed to help boost that person to the next level of achievement and impact. SupporTED Coaching is an important component of the TED Fellow's development. If you enjoy working with brilliant, challenging clients, this could be the volunteer project of your dreams.

If I volunteer as a SupporTED coach, does this mean I'll have a better chance of being accepted to attend TED Conferences?

Everyone's application gets thoughtful consideration from the TED team. Attendees are accepted based on a variety of factors, and the SupporTED team is not part of the selection process. You may certainly ask Ruth Ann Harnisch and Renee Freedman to use their names as TED references on your application.

What acknowledgment will I receive for my volunteer service as a SupporTED coach?

Your service will be acknowledged on a dedicated web page of SupporTED Coaching Heroes. When we receive your completed Closing Questionnaire, we will also send a letter of acknowledgment recognizing your contribution.

Can I take a tax deduction for my volunteer service?

Please consult your financial advisor. Certain expenses may be tax-deductible.

Who pays for the cost of the coaching calls?

That is a discussion for the coach and the TED Fellow to have at the outset of their coaching relationship. SupporTED Coaching may be conducted in many ways, including telephone, Skype, Instant Message, email, and in person. If you have exceptional circumstances, please contact SupporTED.

The TED Fellow I'm coaching has financial needs, or is running a nonprofit program that needs money. Is it appropriate for me to give money to my client?

Absolutely not, for the duration of the coaching engagement. It puts both the SupporTED Coach and the TED Fellow in a different type of relationship that makes objectivity impossible and interferes with the coaching. When you are no longer in a coaching relationship, you are free to make whatever choices you deem appropriate.

Do you provide a contract that covers the coaching engagement, or may I use my own agreement that I use with all my clients?

There is a SupporTED Coaching Agreement on the website. This is the agreement the SupporTED team would like you to use in lieu of your usual contract.

What if the coaching relationship is not working out?

If either you or the TED Fellow feels that the coaching match is not a good one, please tell us promptly. We will make other arrangements. Please share your thoughts about what should be considered in making the next match for you, and for that TED Fellow.

I completed a SupporTED Coaching engagement and I'm ready for another! What do I need to do?

Contact SupporTED, and we'll put you back on the roster of SupporTED coaches. We will always make an effort to create the best possible match between a coach and a TED Fellow.

I filled out my SupporTED Coach application a long time ago and I haven't been matched with a TED Fellow yet. What's up?

Not every TED Fellow chooses to take advantage of the SupporTED Coaching offer. So there may be a wait for the TED Fellow whose needs match your expertise.

I've looked at the list of TED Fellows on the TED website and I think I'm perfect for one of them. May I choose my own client from the roster?

Please feel free to tell us when you see a TED Fellow you feel would benefit greatly from your skills. We can't guarantee that you'll be matched with a specific TED Fellow, but if your expertise is a great complement to a TED Fellow's needs, we'll make every effort to bring you together.

How do I become a SupporTED Coach?

We're looking for top-notch, highly experienced coaches. International expertise is a plus. TED Fellows come from a vast array of fields, interests, and countries. Is your ideal client an artist, an inventor, a community organizer, a political activist, a filmmaker, or an executive? TED Fellows are polymaths with an unusual set of challenges. Are you up to it? Please complete the SupporTED Coach Application. If your skills and experience meet the SupporTED standards, we'll include you on the roster.

May I use the SupporTED logo on my website or in my promotional materials?

We're sorry, but the use of the SupporTED logo is restricted and not available for use outside official TED business.

May I include my SupporTED service in my bio and on my website?

When your name appears on the SupporTED Coaching Heroes page, you are welcome to link to that page and to tell others that you have contributed your pro bono coaching services to a TED Fellow.

I've finished my volunteer coaching engagement with the TED Fellow. May I continue to coach that Fellow after our agreement has ended?

You are free to continue the coaching relationship. We ask you to contact SupporTED and let us know that you are extending your agreement. As long as your client is a TED Fellow, we expect the relationship to be pro bono. As part of your SupporTED agreement, you promise that you will not attempt to market or sell your services to the TED Fellow at any time.

• TED Fellows
• TED Fellows FAQ
• SupporTED Coaches
• SupporTED Coaches FAQ
• The SupporTED Coaching Heroes