Fees and Financial Aid

Conference fees

Delegate Fee: $90
Advisor Fee: $70
(Late Fee: $50)

Deposit is 20% of total conference fees and is due TBD unless financial aid is requested.

FINANCIAL AID

Yale Model United Nation’s groundbreaking financial aid program seeks to ensure that finances do not stand in the way of the opportunity for students to participate in an incredibly enriching MUN experience. Our top priority as an organization is to make YMUN accessible to students who may otherwise not have the financial resources to attend MUN conferences, acknowledging that conference fees as well as travel and lodging costs may constitute a significant barrier for many institutions. We are proud to have a generous financial aid budget that allows us to improve the quality and accessibility of our conference, and to make it a possibility for everyone. This year, we aim to offer our most expansive financial aid program yet. 

APPLYING FOR financial Aid

Financial aid applications will be released soon!

To apply for financial aid, first create an account on the YMUN 51 registration platform (registration.ymun.org). Once you have registered for the conference, click on the Financial Aid tab at the top of the page.

This year, we are introducing one single financial aid application. All applicants will be considered for Fee Waivers, which waive the $90/delegate and $70/advisor conference fee for the delegation. Applicants who answer the last question will be considered for additional financial aid beyond Fee Waivers (used primarily for travel and lodging costs). This comes in the form of our Breaking Boundaries scholarship, which delegations from the United States attending YMUN for the first time will be considered for, as well as several other scholarships open to all domestic and international delegations.

Fundraising

Delegations are also encouraged to pursue individual fundraising efforts. Below are some tips and methods on fundraising. Feel free to reach out to either Elizabeth Steeves at domestic@ymun.org or Deewa Rahim at international@ymun.org if you have any questions. We can also help with finding budget-efficient travel and lodging. 

Types of Fundraising

• Online fundraising platforms are a great way to share your campaign with others and consolidate the funds you raise. Though there are many platforms out there, here are a few examples:

  • GoFundMe

  • DonateKindly

  • Snap! Raise

• Selling services

  • This type of fundraising generally includes things like babysitting, tutoring, running errands, walking or washing dogs, and doing yard work. 

  • However, you should also take advantage of your own unique skills! If you’re a writer, review your peers’ essays. If you’re a musician or part of your school’s marching band, offer live music or hold a concert. If you’re a pro at building apps or websites, offer those services. If you’re not sure you’ll find a market for your services, check out freelancing platforms like Fiverr and Upwork!

• Selling products 

  • Some typical examples are bake sales and garage sales. If you’ve got a creative side, definitely consider selling your own artwork, whether that be a painting, cartoon, or hand-knitted scarf. Again, use your skills!

Planning Your Fundraising Campaign

• General tips

  • Determine your financial need. Doing so will allow you to get a sense of the required scope of your fundraising campaign.

  • Based on your financial need, develop a timeline with clear and achievable goals. Not only is this smart planning, but it will also make you excited throughout your fundraising campaign. Little compares to the feeling of meeting a goal!

  • Spread the word on social media by posting about your fundraising campaign. If you have a fundraising page, make sure to link it! Also reach out to friends and family, and ask them to share your post. Even if they can’t support your cause financially, chances are they can support you this way!

  • Think of your fundraising campaign as a story. Show and tell your story.

    • Make your fundraising page your own! Alternatively, if you’re fundraising in-person, prepare a spiel or “pitch” to give to your potential sponsors. In either case, you should answer the following questions:

      • What are some of your personal aspirations? 

      • How will attending YMUN help you fulfill them? 

      • Why does YMUN interest you? 

      • What is YMUN, exactly? 

    • When fundraising online or sending emails to potential sponsors, incorporate visuals whenever possible. Attach a picture of yourself — potential sponsors will feel more connected to your cause if you put a face to your name. If you’ve attended YMUN in the past and have pictures of your experience, include them. Otherwise, pictures from any other Model UN conferences or pictures of Yale’s campus might also help your audience visualize your intended experience.  

• Conducting outreach 

  • Leverage your network in order to sell your services/products or identify potential sponsors. Think family friends, parents’ co-workers, community organizations you’ve worked with, and so on. 

  • Identify potential sponsors. A great place to start is local businesses, especially those at which you are a regular customer. Educational consulting agencies, tutoring franchises, and other education-oriented groups will also be good bets. Finally, Local Rotary clubs, Kiwanis clubs, and other community organizations may also have the resources and will to support you financially. 

  • When contacting potential sponsors, there are a few routes you can take. Typically, you can start out by sending an email or if the potential sponsor is someone you are familiar with, sending a text message. If you don’t get a response, consider calling. Remember to be persistent and follow-up. Most importantly, however, remember to be respectful and professional when communicating with potential sponsors. No one is obligated to support your campaign, and you should already count yourself fortunate if they’re taking the time out of their day to hear or read your message.

  • Once someone does make a contribution to your campaign, whether that be by buying a service/product or donating on an online platform, send them a thank you note! Don’t wait to do this! If you can, continue engaging with your sponsors even after they have made their contribution. A few ways to do so include sending updates on your fundraising progress or sending pictures and postcards from YMUN.