Quick Answer
How to fund a class reunion
Fund a class reunion with ticket sales (70–90% of revenue), plus local business sponsorships, an optional silent auction, and add-on donations. Build the budget first, then price tickets to cover it.
Typical class reunion funding mix
Average across ~100-attendee reunions. Tickets carry the budget — the rest pads the buffer.
8 funding sources, ranked
- Ticket sales — 70–90% of revenue. Price = (total budget × 1.07) ÷ expected attendance.
- Early-bird tier — same ticket, $10–$20 off, locks in early cash flow.
- Local sponsorships — classmate-owned businesses, $250–$1,000 tiers.
- Silent auction — donated items, online bidding through the reunion site.
- Optional add-on donation — "Support the next reunion" checkbox at checkout.
- Scholarship fund crossover — split donations with the high school's student fund.
- Yearbook / photo book sales — sell a digital memory book at $15–$30.
- T-shirt / merch sales — class shirts at $25 ($10 cost), modest profit.
How to land local sponsors
The sponsor pitch is easier than committees expect because the ask is small and the goodwill is large. Start by listing every local business owned by, or that employs, a classmate. Reach out to that classmate directly — not to the business cold.
A workable tier sheet:
- Bronze — $250: Logo on the reunion website + a sponsor wall poster at the event.
- Silver — $500: Bronze + a half-page ad in the printed program + a table sign at the venue.
- Gold — $1,000: Silver + a verbal thank-you from the podium + first dibs on a featured spot.
- Title sponsor — $2,500+: "Class of 2000 25th Reunion, presented by [Sponsor]" placement everywhere.
Most committees raise $500–$3,000 in sponsorships, which covers decor, name badges, and the software fee outright.
The math behind ticket pricing
The mistake most committees make is pricing tickets to round numbers ($75, $100) before knowing the actual budget. Do the budget first, then back into the ticket price. The formula:
Ticket price = (Total budget × 1.07) ÷ Expected attendance
The 1.07 is a 7% buffer for no-shows, last-minute add-ons, and the small surplus you want for the next reunion.
Example: $9,400 budget, 100 expected attendees → ($9,400 × 1.07) ÷ 100 = $100.58 per ticket. Round up to $105 or down to $100 based on what feels right for the class.
How Reunly handles class reunion funding
- Built-in ticket payment processing. No separate Eventbrite, no PayPal request links.
- Multiple ticket tiers. Early bird, regular, kids/teens, single event vs. weekend pass.
- Optional add-on donations. One-click scholarship-fund or sustain-the-reunion checkbox.
- Sponsor logo display. Sponsor wall section built into your reunion site.
- Real-time budget tracker. See revenue vs. costs as RSVPs come in.
- $39 one-time fee. No per-ticket cut — keeps every dollar in the reunion fund.
Class Reunion Funding FAQ
How do you fund a class reunion?
Most class reunions are funded primarily through ticket sales (70–90% of revenue), with the rest from local business sponsorships, a silent auction, and sometimes alumni donations or a portion of yearbook DVD/photo book sales. Build the budget first, then price tickets to cover it with a 5–10% buffer.
How do you get sponsors for a class reunion?
Make a list of local businesses owned by or employing classmates. Reach out with a one-page sponsorship sheet — typical tiers are $250 (logo on website), $500 (logo + table sign), $1,000 (logo + half-page in program + mention from podium). Most committees raise $500–$3,000 this way.
Should we charge tickets or ask for donations?
Charge tickets. Donations underperform predictably — people commit cash when they buy a ticket, not when they're asked for goodwill. A clear ticket price ($75, $95, $125) is also easier to budget against than hoping donations land. Add a 'sustain the reunion fund' optional add-on for $10–$25 if you want a donation channel.
What's an early-bird ticket and does it work?
An early-bird ticket is the same event at a $10–$20 discount if purchased before a cutoff date (usually 90–120 days out). It works extremely well — it converts on-the-fence classmates, gives the committee real cash flow for deposits, and creates a count to use in social-proof marketing ('40 classmates already in').
Can class reunions raise money for the school?
Yes — many committees add an optional $10–$50 donation to the high school's scholarship fund at checkout. Frame it as 'pay it forward to current students.' Conversion rates of 30–50% are common, often raising $500–$2,000 for the school without affecting reunion revenue.
Fund your reunion without losing 10% to fees
Reunly handles ticket sales, multi-tier pricing, sponsor logos, and add-on donations — for a flat $39, not a per-ticket cut. Every extra dollar stays in the reunion fund.
Start collecting tickets free →$39 one-time. No per-ticket fees.