Fees and Financial Aid

Conference fees

$90 per in-person delegate

$70 per advisor

$30 per virtual delegate

20% of your delegation’s conference fees are due on October 9, 2026, unless your delegation submits a financial aid application.

FINANCIAL AID

Yale Model United Nations’ robust, nationally-leading financial aid program ensures that socioeconomic status is not a barrier for students’ participation in a truly life-changing MUN experience. YMUN invites all students and delegations concerned about the cost of conference fees, travel, and accommodations to apply. Every year, we host hundreds of delegates from across the United States and around the world who attend the conference on financial aid. All voices, from all backgrounds, are welcome at YMUN!

APPLYING FOR financial Aid

The financial aid application is due at 11:59 pm EST on October 9, 2026 and is available on the registration platform. All applicants will be considered for fee waivers, which eliminate delegations’ fees, billed by YMUN, in whole or in part. Applicants may also apply for additional travel and accommodation stipends. These include the following scholarships:

The Breaking Boundaries Scholarship, awarded to a domestic delegation attending YMUN for the first time.

The Bright Horizons Scholarship, awarded to an international delegation attending YMUN for the first time.

The Boundless Beginnings Scholarship, awarded to a domestic delegation attending YMUN and traveling over 1200 miles.

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 domestic@ymun.org or international@ymun.org if you have any questions. We can also help you 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:

  • 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.