Our Crowdfunding Groups
The Berkeley Forum is a completely nonpartisan, student-run nonprofit that organizes debates, talks, and panels that are open and accessible to UC Berkeley students and our community. Since 2012, the Berkeley Forum has, hosted more than 65 events with over 100 speakers and 5,000 guests. Hosting 32 of those events in just the last year alone, our organization has and continues to grow tremendously. Some of our past guests have included: Former Presidential Candidate, Rand Paul; Co-Host of MythBusters, Jamie Hyneman; Founder of PayPal, Peter Thiel.
While we aim to carry out our mission and work in order to bring diverse viewpoints to the UC Berkeley campus to the fullest extent in an accessible manner, our resources are limited. As a completely student-run, nonprofit organization we have been unable to host debates and panels with the same regularity as speaker addresses. We believe that debates and panels are extremely important as they reaffirm the value of a liberal arts education. They bring in multiple, diverse viewpoints to one forum and consequently bring in students and audience members from various groups and societies. However, panels and debates also entail a greater number of speakers, incurring greater travel, venue, and accommodation costs.
The Forum aims to use crowdfunding to host TWO debates/panels on the UC Berkeley campus this semester!
Potential event topics include:
Through YOUR support:
Being a nonprofit, The Berkeley Forum depends primarily on donations and limited university grants for support - resources that cover only a fraction of the cost of just a single event. Many times, Forum members pay out of their own pockets for events.
Associated with the insights, ideas, and voices of 3-5 speakers brought in by each debate/panel are the costs of such large-scale events. The Berkeley Forum is excited to expose our community to incredible ideas and diversity of thought, which is why your support is CRUCIAL.
The Berkeley Forum holds a panel, "Hacking the Hackathon," in Partnership with Cal Hacks.
Jamie Hyneman, Co-Host of the television series, Mythbusters, speaks at the Berkeley Forum about building a bridge between entertainment and science.
The Berkeley Forum has been featured in some of today's biggest press and media sources.
Jeannette Wing, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Research, speaks to Cal students about the importance of basic research and computational thinking.
To find out more about us and our events, visit us at forum.berkeley.edu and like us on Facebook.
Mention on the Berkeley Forum's Facebook event page & name recognition on the pre-event(s) presentation plus EXCLUSIVE "The Berkeley Forum" laptop sticker (until supply lasts; pick up at an event)
Invitation to an exclusive event-planning reception with Berkeley Forum members to brainstorm potential ideas for future speakers/events/themes with the Berkeley Forum team, plus lower level perks.
Guaranteed seating for 2 persons at debate(s)/panel(s), printed copy of exclusive, official event poster, plus lower level perks
Preferred seating for two persons at debate(s)/panel(s), plus lower level perks
Recognition from Forum president during event introduction, signed copy of official poster from speakers at debate(s)/panel(s), plus lower level perks
Recognition on printed and digital event programs and materials, plus lower level perks
Pre- or post- event reception with speaker(s). If speaker(s) are unavailable for reception, this perk will be substituted with reception with another, mutually-agreed upon speaker, plus lower level perks
