WHAT MAKES A GREAT SPEAKER?

One of the most common questions I get when helping teams plan their Vision Dinners is: What makes a great speaker? It’s a tough question because speakers are as varied as the audiences they address. In fact, if I were to give you a cookie-cutter template for all speakers, it would only ensure that your speaker was boring and formulaic!

Answering this question is a bit like answering, How do you make good music? The answer depends on the artist, their style, and the message they want to convey.

Asking what makes a good speaker is a bit like asking, "How do you make good music?"

What's the Purpose of the Main Speaker?

That leads directly into the first question that we need to answer: What is the purpose of the speaker at a Vision Dinner? I think that many of us have differing answers regarding "What makes a great speaker" because we enter into the question having already come to different conclusions about why the main speaker slot exists.

If you want to read more about the purpose of the speaker, read Do I Really Need a Main Speaker - for now, here's the quick list of what we're trying to get out of the Main Speaker portion of the program:

1️⃣ Appreciate Our Partners by providing them with a dynamic, inspiring portion of the program that we could not produce ourselves.

2️⃣ Provide a Unique Perspective on our ministry. The rest of the program is filled with staff and partners - their role is very important but in the end it's meaningful to our guests that they hear an outside perspective.

3️⃣ Advocate for Partnership by explaining how your team's ministry has impacted their life and the lives of others.

4️⃣ Raise Your Event's Profile by bringing in someone who has noteriety and respect beyond what you could provide without them. The speaker doesn't need to be a big name, but should be someone who leaves your guests feeling like their presence really elevated the event.

While every speaker brings their own personality and approach to the stage, there are some common qualities that set exceptional speakers apart. Whether you’re selecting a keynote speaker for your next event or preparing to take the stage yourself, here are some key characteristics that make a speaker truly impactful.

Qualities of a Great Vision Dinner Speaker

Again, it’s hard to narrow down a list of specific traits that you hope are true of every speaker. Often, what makes a speaker great is the unique elements of their story and delivery. That said here are four things that I’d say should be true of any Vision Dinner speaker:

✅ Has a Personal and Powerful Connection to the Cause – The best speakers are those who have been deeply impacted by the mission of your ministry. Their story isn’t just compelling; it’s personal. They can authentically share how the organization has changed their life or the lives of those they serve.

✅ Brings a Unique Perspective – A truly memorable speaker offers insights that go beyond what attendees would hear from local staff or leadership. Whether they’re a former student, an external partner, or a leader within the organization, they offer fresh perspectives that reinforce the impact of the mission.

✅ Leaves the Audience Feeling Inspired and Engaged – The best speakers create moments that attendees will carry with them long after the event. They evoke a sense of “I’m so glad I came tonight because I would have missed this if I hadn’t been here.” They engage not just the mind but also the heart.

✅ Builds Trust and Confidence in the Organization – A great speaker strengthens attendees’ belief in the mission and leaves them more excited than ever to partner financially. They communicate in a way that reassures partners that their contributions will have a lasting and meaningful impact.

How Leadership and Executive Team Members Can Elevate a Talk

Perhaps the most common 'genre' of main speaker is a local, regional, or national leader who already serves with the organization. This can be a very powerful type of main speaker because they have the inside perspective of another staff member, but also an outside perspective as they don't serve directly with the team.

For those in leadership roles within the organization—especially those leading at a regional or national level — speaking at a Vision Dinner is an opportunity to offer a broader, big-picture perspective. Here’s what an organizational leader can uniquely bring to the table:

🔹 A Vision for the Bigger Picture – They help guests see beyond local impact and recognize how their contributions support a larger, national, or even global movement.

🔹 A Rich History of Transformation – If they have been involved with the organization for years, they can share the long-term story of how the mission has grown and evolved, illustrating God’s faithfulness over time.

🔹 A Connection Between Local and Global Impact – They can show how the work being done at a local level is part of something much greater—connecting guests’ giving to the broader mission and reinforcing that what God is doing "out there" is also happening right here.

Examples of Exceptional Speakers and Why They Stand Out

Many great Vision Dinner speakers have mastered the art of blending personal stories, vision casting, and impact-driven messaging. There is an endless list of "types" of speakers that you might ask to be a part of your Vision Dinner program, so please don't think this list is exhaustive.

That said, here are the three most common roles that I've seen a speaker fill in an effective way. I've also included a real example of someone I've heard fill this role well and what makes them a great speaker:

⭐ The Storyteller – A speaker who shares compelling personal stories of transformation, illustrating how lives have been changed through the organization’s mission. These narratives create an emotional connection with the audience.

A great example of The Storyteller that I’ve heard firsthand is Roger Hershey, who has led for decades in many roles within Cru. Roger has a standard talk he gives where he shares stories of specific students he's impacted on staff and where God has taken them since college. He shows how the world is being impacted today by his ministry with Cru, then he connects it back by reminding partners that there are similar students  in college today who are ready to make an impact for the Kingdom.

⭐ The Strategic Visionary – A leader who casts a wide-angle vision, showing how the mission fits into a larger movement. This type of speaker helps guests see the scale of their impact and the long-term potential of their support.

An example that comes to mind here is Rob Mittuch, who is the former field director for Cru’s Mid-Atlantic region. Rob is an effective Vision Dinner speaker because he has the perspective that many others don’t.  Rob can share how he has seen God move in the region as a whole and he can share how the local movement is an integral and strategic part of Cru's larger ministry.

⭐ The Insider with a Fresh Perspective – Someone who is closely involved with the organization but offers a viewpoint that donors don’t often hear—such as a faculty member, business leader, or former participant. Their perspective highlights the organization’s influence in ways that resonate deeply with the audience.

The person who exemplifies this archetype is Heather Holleman, who served for decades in Cru’s faculty ministry and is, herself, an English professor at Penn State. Heather is one of those special speakers that is very hard to replicate. She brings the perspective of a faculty member who can show how she lives out her involvement with Cru to advance the gospel in her scope. She shares how she reaches students and how Cru has helped her to live out God's calling in her life.

Making It Your Own

While these principles can serve as a guide, the most important aspect of any Vision Dinner talk is authenticity. Two speakers can be given the same notes, yet deliver two completely different—and equally powerful—messages. The key is to make it your own, staying true to your voice and your experience.

If you’re preparing for an upcoming fundraising banquet and wondering how to craft your talk, start by asking:

✔️ What unique perspective do I bring?

✔️ How has this mission personally impacted me?

✔️ What stories can I tell that will inspire and move the audience?

✔️ How can I connect donors to the bigger picture?

By focusing on these questions, you’ll not only engage your audience but also leave them with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement for supporting the mission.