Class Reunion Donation Letter Template

Raise the funds that cover venue deposits and subsidize classmates who can't afford a ticket.

Class reunions cost more to produce than ticket sales typically cover — especially the deposits paid 6-12 months out, long before any ticket revenue arrives. A well-targeted donation letter solves that gap, funds scholarships, and quietly covers tickets for classmates who would skip otherwise. The trick is making the ask separately from ticket sales (don't bury it in the invitation), giving classmates a real reason to contribute (not 'fund the reunion' but 'subsidize someone's ticket'), and offering tiered suggested amounts. This template raises real money — typical campaigns generate $2,000-8,000 from a 100-person class. Copy, customize, send 2-4 weeks after your formal invitation.

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The Donation Letter

Print or send as PDF email attachment. Include actual budget numbers — transparency raises more money than vague asks.

[CLASS REUNION COMMITTEE LETTERHEAD] [SCHOOL NAME] Class of [YEAR] [DATE] Dear [CLASSMATE NAME], You may have already RSVPed for our [MILESTONE]-Year reunion in [MONTH YEAR] — or you may still be deciding. Either way, we wanted to share something we don't put in the formal invitation: A class reunion costs more to produce than ticket sales cover. Here's the math: • Venue deposit: $[AMOUNT] • Food and beverage minimums: $[AMOUNT] • DJ + sound + lighting: $[AMOUNT] • Printing + name tags + booklets: $[AMOUNT] • Postage and admin: $[AMOUNT] • Memorial moment + slideshow: $[AMOUNT] • TOTAL FIXED COSTS: $[AMOUNT] Tickets cover the variable cost (food + drinks per person), but the fixed costs above are paid whether 50 or 150 classmates show up. This is what donations fund — and it's also what we use to: ✦ Subsidize tickets for classmates who can't otherwise afford the cost ✦ Build a scholarship in the Class of [YEAR]'s name at [SCHOOL NAME] for current students ✦ Maintain the reunion fund so the next reunion doesn't start from zero HOW YOU CAN HELP ───────────────────────────────────── Any contribution helps. Suggested amounts: $25 "Thanks for organizing — every bit helps" $50 Covers a portion of a classmate ticket $100 Fully subsidizes a classmate ticket $250 Class Champion — sponsors a scholarship seat $500+ Founders Circle — listed in the program Every donor is acknowledged in the reunion program (unless you prefer to remain anonymous). HOW TO DONATE ───────────────────────────────────── ☐ Online: [DONATION URL] ☐ Venmo: @[HANDLE] (memo: "Class of [YEAR]") ☐ Zelle: [EMAIL] ☐ Check: Payable to "[CLASS OF YEAR REUNION FUND]" Mail to: [ADDRESS] Donations are [TAX DEDUCTIBLE if routed through [SCHOOL] Alumni Foundation / NOT tax deductible — this is a class reunion fund, not a 501(c)(3)]. WHY THIS MATTERS ───────────────────────────────────── Two stories: At our 20-year reunion, a classmate emailed three weeks before the event saying she couldn't afford the ticket and probably wouldn't come. A quiet donation from another classmate covered her ticket. She came. She told us at the end of the night it was one of the best evenings of her life. That's what your contribution does. Whether you can give $25 or $500 — or nothing at all — we're glad you're part of the Class of [YEAR]. See you in [MONTH]. With gratitude, [ORGANIZER NAME] On behalf of the [YEAR] Reunion Committee Questions: [EMAIL] | [PHONE] Reunion website: [URL]

Follow-Up Email (4 Weeks Later)

Sent 3-4 weeks after the original letter. Update progress numbers and quote donors by name (with permission) — social proof drives matching gifts.

Subject: One more time — Class of [YEAR] reunion fund Hi [NAME], A quick follow-up to last month's letter about the Class of [YEAR] reunion fund. We're [PERCENTAGE]% of the way to our goal of $[AMOUNT]. [NUMBER] classmates have contributed so far, including [NAME 1], [NAME 2], and [NAME 3]. If you missed the original letter — the short version: the reunion has fixed costs (venue, DJ, printing) that tickets don't fully cover. Donations close the gap and let us subsidize tickets for classmates who can't otherwise attend. Any amount helps. Suggested giving levels: $25 — Every bit $50 — Portion of a classmate ticket $100 — Full classmate ticket subsidy $250 — Class Champion Give here: [URL] Or Venmo @[HANDLE] | Zelle [EMAIL] Thank you — and see you in [MONTH]. — [ORGANIZER NAME] Class of [YEAR] Reunion Committee

Class Reunion Fundraising Best Practices

Show the actual budget

Transparent numbers raise more money than vague appeals. List the venue deposit, the DJ cost, the printing cost. Classmates donate to specific line items more readily than to a generic 'fund.'

Frame as subsidizing classmates

'Help us cover a classmate who can't afford a ticket' raises more than 'help fund the reunion.' Specificity and empathy beat abstract appeals every time.

Use suggested giving levels

Open-ended asks ('any amount helps') raise less than tiered ones. Give 4-5 suggested amounts including one aspirational 'Class Champion' level — some classmates will hit it.

Acknowledge every donor publicly

List donor names in the reunion program (with opt-out). Recognition matters — even small donors want to be acknowledged for stepping up.

Route through the school's foundation

If your school has an alumni foundation, route donations through them so they're tax-deductible. The school usually handles this for free and benefits from the relationship.

Send the follow-up

Most donations come from the second ask, not the first. Always send a follow-up 3-4 weeks after the original with progress numbers.

Reunly's Built-In Fundraising Tools

Run your reunion fundraising alongside ticket sales in one platform. Classmates can buy tickets and donate in a single checkout.

✓Built-in donation page with suggested giving levels
✓Tiered acknowledgment list auto-generated for the reunion program
✓Progress bar shows how close you are to your fundraising goal
✓Auto-receipts for donors (tax language if routed through school foundation)
✓Combine donation + ticket purchase in single checkout

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Built for class reunion organizers

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do class reunions need donations on top of ticket sales?

Three reasons. First, venues require deposits 6-12 months before the event — long before ticket sales come in. Second, every class has a few people who can't afford a $100-150 ticket but would come if subsidized. Third, many classes use the reunion as a fundraising moment for a class scholarship at the old school. Donations cover all three.

How much should I ask classmates to donate?

Suggest tiered amounts: $25 'I appreciate you organizing,' $50 'covers a portion of someone's ticket,' $100 'covers a full classmate scholarship,' $250 'class champion.' Open suggestion ranges always raise more than a single ask. About 15-20% of recipients will give if the ask is well-targeted.

Is a class reunion donation tax-deductible?

Usually no, unless your class reunion fund is set up as a 501(c)(3) or is donated through your school's alumni foundation. Many committees route donations through the school's foundation specifically so they're tax-deductible. Talk to the school's development office if this matters for your class.

Should I send the donation letter separately from the invitation?

Yes. Mixing the ask with the ticket purchase confuses people — they think their ticket includes a donation, or they skip both because it feels like too much. Send the donation letter 2-4 weeks after the invitation, framed as 'help us extend the event to classmates who couldn't otherwise attend.'

Who should I send the donation letter to?

Send to your full class list, including classmates who already bought tickets. Often the most engaged ticket-buyers are also the most generous donors — they're invested in making the event great. Don't exclude them.

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