Tips for Fundraising

Participation in RHSMUN is an educational experience from which students will benefit for the rest of their lives. Because of our commitment to ensuring educational equity, RHSMUN strives to keep its fees as low as possible, and works with the Parc 55 Wyndham in San Francisco to attain the best rates available for its conference participants. In addition to conference fees and the nightly hotel rates, participating schools should also budget for hotel taxes, transportation to and within San Francisco, tourist activities, and meals. We recognize that attending MUN conferences can be costly, and encourage you to take a look at the following suggestions for raising money for your school’s MUN program and travel to RHSMUN.

• Many schools raise money through the traditional avenues of sponsoring bake sales, organizing car washes, or selling gift-wrap. These should not be ignored since they are relatively easy to organize and can usually guarantee raising at least $200, although this amount will vary according to school size and geographic location.
• If yours is a private school, consult with your development office for funding help. If your school is publicly funded, consult with an appropriate administrator. In most cases, even schools on tight budgets can find a few dollars to contribute to Model UN programs. Make sure that you stress the educational value of the RHSMUN experience.
• Most schools have some form of student government that often has funding available for student activities. Contact the student government leaders and their advisors for help in securing funds.
• The public is becoming increasingly aware of the significance of international politics. Many cities have World Affairs Councils or other internationally-minded groups that would be willing to help your students. It has also been recommended by past delegates and Faculty Advisors that schools contact their local Chambers of Commerce in order to secure funds.
• According to the Federal Reserve Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act handbook, the CRA requires regulatory agencies to encourage banks to help meet the credit needs of their local community, including any low or moderate-income areas. Various provisions of the Act were passed by Congress during the 1970s in an effort to outlaw the practice of redlining. As its name implies, the Act requires banks to reinvest money into the neighborhoods in which they operate. Many banks also fulfill their CRA requirements by providing money for educational endeavors such as study abroad programs and summer class sessions. Contact the Community and Consumer Affairs Department of banks in your area to receive more information about applying for grants to be used towards financing your delegation’s trip to RHSMUN.
• Your local library should have a listing of area philanthropic organizations and some of the causes they support. This list can usually be found in the reference section. Identify some organizations dedicated to furthering education or international studies and contact them for information on grant opportunities.
• Local businesses, both large and small, have been known to be significant contributors to Model UN programs in the past. Organize students to contact a certain number of businesses each. Often, businesses decide how their donations will be allocated at the beginning of the fiscal year, so it is best to contact these local businesses as soon as possible.