Planning class reunions can be a logistical nightmare. While reunions are meant to be about reconnecting, reminiscing, and celebrating shared memories, managing the finances often becomes a stressful task. From collecting money for food and drinks to covering travel expenses, fundraising, and handling event tickets, the financial side of things can easily get out of hand. Thankfully, digital solutions are here to simplify the process, making it easier to manage your class reunion finances. In this blog, we’ll include a planning class reunions checklist and show how technology can streamline your financial tasks. Instead of getting caught up with the stress of planning class reunions, you can focus on what really matters—outshining your high school nemesis.
5 Tips To Simplify Planning Class Reunions
1. Streamline Payment Collection with Online Links
One of the easiest ways to manage class reunion payments is to use Crowded’s simple online payment collection system. Whether you’re collecting money for food, drinks, travel, or event tickets, you can set up a payment collection in just minutes:
- Create a payment link in 1 minute: Simply pick the amount you need to collect (e.g., food costs, travel fees), name the collection (e.g., “Reunion Food Fund” or “Event Tickets”), and share the link with your attendees.
- No app download required: Your class reunion guests don’t need to download an app to make payments. They just click the link, select their payment method, and complete the transaction in seconds.
- Accept multiple payment methods: With Crowded, you can accept a wide range of payment methods, including Apple Pay, debit and credit cards, ACH transfers, checks, and cash. This makes it easy for everyone to pay in the way that’s most convenient for them.
2. Track Payments and Stay Organized
Keeping track of payments for a class reunion can get chaotic—especially when you’re dealing with different types of costs (e.g., food, entertainment, accommodations). Crowded makes it easier than ever to stay organized:
- Manage your attendee database: You can easily keep track of who’s paid and who hasn’t. This allows you to follow up on unpaid balances and avoid confusion.
- Track expenses and cash flow: Whether you’re collecting for a dinner, a weekend trip, or a fundraising event, Crowded provides a clear overview of your reunion’s finances, so you’ll always know how much money you’ve raised, where it’s coming from, and where it’s being spent.
- Send payment reminders: If an attendee hasn’t paid for their share yet, you can send automated reminders directly through the Crowded platform. This helps ensure you don’t miss out on any payments and that everyone contributes their fair share.
3. Sell Tickets and Merchandise with Mobile Point-of-Sale
If you’re collecting payments during the event (for things like extra drinks, merchandise, or last-minute tickets), Crowded offers a mobile point-of-sale feature, allowing you to accept payments directly from your phone:
- Tap-to-pay convenience: Whether you’re at a class reunion dinner, game, or other social events, you can accept payments on the spot with Apple Pay, debit, or credit cards—no need for extra hardware.
- Instant deposits: Funds are securely processed and go straight into your bank account, keeping your finances organized and eliminating the need to handle cash or checks.
- Perfect for on-site payments: Whether you’re selling branded reunion t-shirts, tickets for an additional event, or collecting last-minute donations, Crowded makes it easy to accept payments from attendees throughout the event.
4. Fundraise with Open Donations
In addition to collecting payments for specific reunion costs, Crowded allows you to run open collections for donations, making it easy to raise extra funds for future reunions or charitable causes:
- Open donation links: Share a collection link where people can donate custom amounts, whether they’re contributing to the general reunion fund or a special cause.
- Share with QR codes: Make it easy for attendees to donate by placing QR codes on your reunion posters, postcards, or event programs. Attendees can scan the code and donate instantly with just a few taps.
- Cover the fees or pass them on: You can choose whether you or your supporters cover the small transaction fee, making it transparent and flexible for everyone.
This open donation feature is a great way to support future events or give back to a charitable cause in the community, all while staying organized and keeping track of contributions.
5. Pay for Reunion Expenses with Budgeted Debit Cards
Managing the money raised from your reunion doesn’t stop at collection. Crowded helps you manage expenses with the option to issue Visa® debit cards to your team members:
- Issue digital or physical cards: You can issue both digital and physical Visa® debit cards to yourself or trusted members of your reunion planning team, allowing them to make purchases on behalf of the group.
- Set spending limits: You can set budget limits on these cards to ensure you don’t overspend on any category (e.g., food, decorations, travel). If needed, you can freeze or revoke access at any time.
- Track spending in real-time: With Crowded Banking, all spending is tracked in real-time, giving you complete control and visibility over how the money is being spent.
Get Started with Crowded Today!
If you’re planning class reunions and want to make financial management simple and stress-free, Crowded is the perfect solution. From collecting payments for dues and travel costs to managing event sales and fundraising, Crowded provides all the tools you need to stay organized and on top of your reunion finances.
