HMUN 2025 Guide To Fundraising and Financial Aid
HMUN 2025 Guide To Fundraising and Financial Aid
United Nations
2025
Dhriti Vadlakonda advisors should review carefully alongside parents before planning to attend the
Under-Secretary-General
Business
conference. HMUN is, above all, a life-changing, unique educational experience.
We recognize that there can be financial burdens associated with attending the
Bautista M. Martinez
Under-Secretary-General conference, and we strive to make this experience accessible to the brightest minds
Finance
in the world, irrespective of ability to pay.
Victor Arruda
Under-Secretary-General Thus, you will find here suggestions for creating a budget, fundraising, solici-
Operations
tation tips, and information about our financial aid program. We indeed expect
Maitri J. Shah
Under-Secretary-General delegates and faculty advisors to seek all available resources before applying to our
General Assembly
financial aid program.
Bobby S. Degeratu
Under-Secretary-General Please take the time to read this document carefully and completely, and make
Economic and Social Council
sure to dedicate enough time to the financial aid process if you intend to apply.
Addison R. Gaddy
Under-Secretary-General As an international student from South America, I understand the importance of
Regional and Specialized Bodies
bringing people from diverse backgrounds together, and I pledge to do so at our
Alice Yang
Under-Secretary-General conference, for which I encourage you to apply for aid if needed. Best of luck, and
Crisis Committees
please feel free to reach out to me with any questions!
Sincerely,
ed in. There will also be countless oppor- Nations team is an officially registered
tunities to socialize or explore the city student organization in good standing.
beyond HMUN that we would suggest Enlist the support of your faculty advisor
taking part in and budgeting for. and any team members with experience
in seeking grants or with connections in
CONFERENCE FUNDRAISING any of the school departments. Approach
your student governing body, your stu-
Although HMUN tries incredibly hard
dent activities office, and, lastly, your high
to support each and every delegate as they
school administration. Your school may
are accepted to the conference and apply for
also have specific research institutions
financial aid, we believe that all delegates and
whom you can contact for both grants
teams should play a major role in the raising of
and research help.
funds to support their trip. We appreciate such
initiative, and raising money for a common • Your Community, Foundations, Non-Profit
goal such as the conference is a great way to Organizations, and Government Agencies: In
strengthen bonds within the team. addition to being a great source of fund-
ing, your school can also be a great source
Below are some of our suggestions and
of information and can refer you to what
strategies that delegates should take in raising
other organizations you can try to con-
funds, but know that what may work for some
tact. Some other types of organizations
delegates may not work for others. Be proactive
that your delegation should approach
about finding creative ways to raise money, and
are community clubs, foundations and
do what works best for your team.
non-profit organizations, government
Locating Sources of Funding agencies, and businesses. For delegations
Before you start finding ways to raise money, coming from abroad, government agen-
see what organizations can help out or what cies can be a valuable source of support.
funds you may be entitled to. Agencies like your Foreign Affairs, Edu-
• High School: Your high school should be cation, Defense, or Domestic Ministries
your very first resource. Many schools may be able to support your Model Unit-
have grants that they provide for student ed Nations program as a youth project
organizations, and some may even be able that boosts awareness of foreign cultures,
to meet all of your financial needs. Reach international affairs, and public policy.
out and see if any such funds are available Also get in touch with your country or
for your team, and, if so, start any appli- state’s United Nations Association (UNA)
cation process that they may have! Before for possible sponsorship or at least fur-
contacting any officials within the school, ther referrals. You can locate your nearest
however, make sure your Model United UNA at www.wfuna.org.
5 Guide to Fundraising and Financial Aid
• Community Groups: There are many com- er possible sources of sponsorship. Many
munity groups such as Rotary Clubs, Lion businesses will have strong commitments
Clubs, and Kiwanis Clubs have a strong to education and youth programs and
history of supporting Model United will be happy to contribute towards your
Nations programs. Seek out chapters of Model United Nations experience. Some
these groups in your local area and see if such companies with demonstrated
they can sponsor you. Large foundations commitments to education and the youth
and non-profit organizations can also be are Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Bayer, Honda,
a valuable source of assistance, so long Coca-Cola, ExxonMobil, and Traveloci-
as your Model United Nations program ty. Local companies are often also happy
fits within their area of work. Look for to support local Model United Nations
organizations that support education, teams. Even if businesses are unable to
civil society strengthening, international provide cash donations, they may often
studies or youth involvement in govern- be able to donate food, gift certificates,
ment or international relations. Be aware services, or products which can then be
that many larger foundations do not used in your organized fundraisers. As
accept unsolicited grants, and take care to you contact companies, also try to identi-
look up any established grant procedures fy and pitch the benefits they also stand to
you will need to follow. As you research gain from being your sponsor. Typically,
foundations and non-profit organiza- the best thing you can offer them is good
tions, pay attention to who their sponsor publicity and you can help promote their
or partner organizations are—you can business by acknowledging them as your
approach them for help as well. As you official sponsors, featuring their logos on
approach these organizations, in addition team merchandise or publications, and
to explaining why you want to come to mentioning them in any publicity efforts
HMUN, what you would gain from the your team may have. Be sure to check
experience, and how much their support with your high school about any school-
would help, clearly describe how your wide policies on soliciting corporate
Model United Nations participation is sponsorships or external grants. There
relevant to their field of work and aligned may be campus guidelines previously
with their organizational mission. You established procedures for obtaining such
can even offer to provide them with a donations. For domestic schools, check
report or a presentation about your expe- if your high school will let you use the
riences after the conference. school non-profit number for soliciting
• Businesses and Corporate Sponsorships: Local, donations so that companies can get a tax
regional, and national businesses are oth- exemption by donating to your team.
Harvard Model United Nations 2025 6
for the package to arrive, and then call whom you can approach again in the
them to confirm that they’re received it. future. If it seems possible, your delega-
Before you even pick up the phone, make tion could host a simple, home-prepared
sure you are already prepared with what thank you dinner for individual sponsors
you are going to say. Introduce your- and organization representatives.
self, and ask to speak with your contact Fundraising Projects
or person in charge of donations if you
In addition to soliciting sponsorships, your
do not have a specific name. When you
delegation should also expect to host a number
speak to your contact, introduce yourself,
of fundraising projects. As stated previously,
remind them of the letter, summarize for
these are great ways to increase team bonding,
them its contents, and then ask if they
and many of these projects should be fun! Here
might be able to help. If it might help, of-
are a few ideas, but be creative in generating
fer to call back in a few days to give them
revenue and publicity for your delegation.
some more time to think. It is essential
to follow up! Your potential sponsors are • Discount Cards: You can try selling stu-
likely very busy, so it will be your respon- dents and other members of the commu-
sibility to see each donation through. nity discount cards which will get them
Every phone call helps. special deals or discounts at local stores.
To make this idea work, you will need to
• Gain something from each contact: Ideally
find local businesses that are willing to
this will be money or grants, but if people
work with you in providing deals and dis-
are unable to directly donate see if there
counts. Local businesses usually support
might be some other way for them to help
such ventures as ways of promoting their
you, whether through other donations
business and their products. Your only
or additional referrals. If someone in an
cost is that of printing the discount cards,
organization says they do not have the au-
which can be on simple card stock or
thorization to make a donation, find out
custom-ordered business cards. On each
who does and how to contact them.
card, be sure to include the names of par-
• Show gratitude and maturity: Thank your ticipating stores, the terms of each deal,
sponsors after each donation and, after the name of your Model United Nations
the conference, get back in touch with team, and the selling price of each card.
each of them to let them know how you Make your cards distinctive so that other
did. Prepare a little presentation to give students can’t just try to make their own
or a newsletter and pictures you can send copies.
them. Share your experience and build a
• Raffles: A raffle is a very popular and
sustainable relationship with each donor.
relatively easy to organize fundraiser,
You’ll want to build a base of sponsors
Harvard Model United Nations 2025 8
just make sure you consult your local grand prize. Other prizes could include
gambling regulations to make sure raf- technology gadgets, sports tickets, gift
fles are legal in your area. The first real certificates, and DVDs. If you are feel-
step is finding and securing prizes for ing artistic, your team could create or
which people will be willing to gamble a decorate its own products. Be creative
small amount of money. These should be in coming up with items. Unique prizes
relatively valuable prizes with widespread usually get higher prices than things peo-
appeal and you would ideally get these ple could buy at the store. Even combin-
prizes at no cost, as donations from either ing and packaging otherwise ordinary
individuals or companies. The hardest items in creative and eye-catching ways
part of running a raffle will be selling can increase their value considerably. As
tickets. Make sure your entire team is much as possible, collect your sale items
involved in selling tickets and offer some as donations. At your auction, set all
sort of incentive for your top salespeople. your items about the auction room in an
You can design the raffle tickets your- attractive manner and provide interesting
selves or buy premade ones, but be sure descriptions of each item. Place items in
that every time someone buys a ticket you locations that will enhance their visibil-
retain a copy of the ticket with their full ity and salient characteristics, and make
contact information. Make sure buyers sure to feature your most important items
know where and when the raffle will be. prominently. Place a bidding sheet by
• Silent Auction: A silent auction is anoth- each item with a minimum bid for each
er fun and straightforward way to raise object, the minimum possible bidding
money. The first step to organizing your increment, and space for people to place
silent auction is gathering all the items their bid. As people arrive, have them
you plan to auction off. Your aim should register their names and contact informa-
be to offer one or two grand prizes and tion with you and assign each customer
many smaller prizes, like movie tickets an identification number. This number
and dinner vouchers at local restaurants. is what they should put down with each
Ask for gift certificate donations from of their bids. If you wish, you may charge
tour companies, hotels, or spas. See if a individuals an entry fee that can then be
well-known professor at your universi- applied towards any of their purchases.
ty would be willing to host dinner for Before you start your auction, make sure
the winning bidder. If one of your team you have a specific end time for your
members has a vacation home that they silent auction and a plan for how to clear
would be willing to lend out for a week- your items. For instance, you can request
end, that would be an example of a great that all bidders stay after the bidding
9 Guide to Fundraising and Financial Aid
period is over and then go through your portion of the club’s entrance fees for one
items declaring and collecting the win- night in return for publicizing the event
ning bids one by one. on campus and bringing them significant
• Other Events Other fundraising events you business. If you are not sure that your
can host are events such as movie nights, Model United Nations team can draw that
concerts, and club nights. Movie nights many people to a club on its own, think
are usually easy to organize as they con- about partnering with another campus
sist primarily of holding a special movie organization to host the event together.
showing and charging for admission. Pick Be conscious of each club’s minimum
a popular or a specially themed movie, age restrictions. With all of these events,
find a central location with a big screen, don’t overlook opportunities to gain more
a good sound system, and comfortable revenues by soliciting event sponsors and
seating, then sell your tickets. Just make by selling food and drinks!
sure to look into the legal regulations of • Creative Sales: Sales can be a very reliable
holding for-profit movie nights, as you way to fundraise on any campus and you
usually need to rent movies directly from have much room for creativity. When at
the movie distribution companies to get all possible, try to sell items which you
their permission to charge admission for can either make yourself or which you
the movie. One possible way around this can sell on commission. You risk losing
is to show old “classics” whose copyright money if you buy many items in advance
licenses have expired. Concerts can quite and then don’t manage to sell them.
a bit more work but much more fun. The Below are some ideas, but this is your
first steps to planning one are to find a opportunity to get creative!
good venue and good light and sound 1. Compile stress relief packages for stu-
systems you can use. The next step will dents during exam periods. These could
be finding artists who can perform for include stress-relieving food, stress balls,
you. Selecting performers well is crucial relaxing face masks, or anything else you
as your roster will make or break your like. You could also advertise these as
concert. Always try to bring in one or two gift packages for students to send to their
well-known performers who will help you friends.
draw a crowd. Then you can try to find
2. Sell coffee or breakfast outside of morn-
popular local artists who will then bring
ing classes.
their own following, or at least plenty of
family and friends. Club nights can also 3. Gather donations from local families and
be great moneymakers. Talk to a local host a yard or garage sale.
club owner and see whether you can get a 4. Host a traditional bake sales or food sale
Harvard Model United Nations 2025 10
at your university. This often works best likely to come to your events if your organiza-
in combination with another event, such tion sounds familiar. It is crucial to publicize
as selling food at your silent auction or your team and HMUN in your school and
car wash, and can greatly enhance your community. This is especially important if
profits. Model United Nations is not well-known where
5. Partner with a business to sell their goods you are from.
in return for a part of the profits. Many As soon as you have been accepted to
businesses have formal programs where HMUN, draft a press release for distribution
students can sell things such as magazine to your school and community newspapers.
subscriptions, chocolate, or other goods Organization is critical in drafting your press
in exchange for a commission. Even if release. Have a catchy and informative title, and
a company has no specific program in use your opening paragraph to summarize who
place, they might still be interested in you are, what you will be doing at HMUN, why
selling their products through you if you it is important, and when you will be going.
present them with a good proposal. Many You can add detail in subsequent paragraphs,
restaurant chains, such as Applebee’s. will but put the most important information in the
host pancake breakfasts where they will beginning of the release to catch your audi-
donate a portion of their profits to you; ence’s attention. Do not forget to mention that
all you have to do is have members sell your team needs financial assistance to attend
tickets and advertise the date so people and publicize your sponsors and fundraising
come in the door. projects. Include contact information and ways
6. For even more ideas, simply search the in which people can help you.
web for “fundraisers” or “creative fund-
FINANCIAL AID
raising ideas.” Sites like www. fundrais-
erhelp.com or www.fasttrackfundraising. We recognize that in some situations it will
com can be very helpful. Think carefully not be possible to raise all the money neces-
and creatively about what your team can sary. This tends to be because of the personal
offer your school or local community. financial situation of delegates, extensive travel
Publicity distances, or exchange rates in countries with
Publicity will be a helpful tool for improving hyperinflation. We are therefore proud to offer
your success in both sponsorship solicitation an extensive and generous need-based financial
and fundraising through events. Donors will aid program to help cover costs.
be much more likely to help you if they already The program is based on two parts, demon-
know who you are and what you are doing. strated financial need and existing fundrais-
School and community members are more ing efforts. We would suggest that you begin
11 Guide to Fundraising and Financial Aid
fundraising as soon as possible so as to have nation between faculty and parents. Once you
demonstrated said efforts before the application start fundraising, you may also begin consid-
deadline, which is November 1, 2024. ering our financial aid application, for which
We would like to offer a framework of the my best advice is to be thorough; most of our
application process, should you wish to be- successful applicants demonstrate significant
gin planning. You should keep records of all prior fundraising efforts and provide enough
fundraising activities—be they applications to documentation for us to visualize that.
grant committees, reaching out to sponsors, or As always, please feel free to contact finance@
events—and keep records of all money raised. harvardmun.org with any questions or to ask
We seek to make the process as simple as for advice. Good luck, and we hope to see you
possible to minimze financial burdens, but it is all next January!
also important to us that there is a level playing
field to access financial aid resources, hence the
rigor. In the application, you may also expect
to provide written statements explaining your
delegation’s need, prior fundraising activities,
and more, including a cover letter signed by
your faculty advisor and principal.
Financial aid recipients must stay at the two
designated conference hotels. More informa-
tion about financial aid, as well as the applica-
tion, can be found on the “Financial Aid” tab at
www.harvardmun.org.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
[Your Name]
Head Delegate or Faculty Advisor
Dear [Name],
Addison R. Gaddy In a globalized world, international education is critical to fostering today’s citizens
Under-Secretary-General and tomorrow’s leaders. With the opportunity to actively debate international prob-
Regional and Specialized Bodies lems and interact with fellow students from around the world, we believe that HMUN
will be a uniquely valuable educational experience. Any support you could provide
Alice Yang
Under-Secretary-General would be immensely appreciated.
Crisis Committees
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Head Delegate or Faculty Advisor