Thanks everyone for making MMMC 2010 great!

Cost Breakdown

In the spirit of transparency, we are sharing the costs associated with putting on MMMC. These numbers are from MMMC 2010. The three major areas of expenses are:

  • Conference Center (includes meeting spaces, lodging and food) - It is difficult to find a truly affordable retreat center that we can have to ourselves, that is near a major airport and can accommodate 80 people or more. Our retreat center cost $41,200 in 2010.  

  • Programming - We pay honoraria, travel, food and lodging for every presenter who is unable to cover their own costs. This is a key way that we are able to support the participation of a broad range of folks, with varied class backgrounds, from across the country. We also provide a leadership training workshop for returning attendees who will be small group leaders. We paid about $15,000 for presenters in 2010.

  • Planning - In addition to administrative overhead, we have a Retreat Director who has major responsibilities to facilitate the whole planning process, which involves management of the volunteer staffed Planning Committee, fundraising, program administration and strategic planning with the Resource Generation staff. The Retreat Director was paid $26,000 in 2010.

In total, the cost of putting on MMMC 2010 was just under $90,000. That means it cost about $1,300 for each young person with wealth. At MMMC 2010 there were 66 young people with wealth and 27 presenters who did not identify as young people with wealth. As not all participants are able to pay the full registration cost, we rely on foundations and other donations from past and current attendees to subsidize the full participation for presenters and some of the attendees. We raise funds from past participants, foundations, and supporting allies. In 2010, we raised $25,000 (of our $90,000 budget) from institutional sponsors.

Based on these costs and funds, we have estimated the full registration cost (including planning, Reflective Leadership, retreat center rental, food, lodging and program costs) for each young person with wealth to be just over $1,300.

Recommended Fees for MMMC 2011 Registration

Last year, we asked all participants to contribute from $500 to $1,500 or more for registration. If you are an official member of Resource Generation, you receive $100 off registration! Not sure if you are enrolled in our new, official membership program yet, or want to learn how to do so? Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Making Money Make Change costs almost $1,300 per young person with wealth to put on. We ask participants to pay as much of this amount as they can. We recognize that members of the MMMC community have diverse financial positions, and many cannot afford this registration cost of $1,300. In order to make the conference affordable to as many potential participants as possible, we've put considerable energy into fundraising from foundations, past conference participants, and supporting allies. Here's a basic and rough breakdown of three possible registration cost tiers you could choose from:

  • $500-$1,000 ($400-$900 for RG Members): Subsidized Registration. This lower registration cost might be more appropriate for participants who don't currently have access to wealth. Many people who attend MMMC expect to inherit wealth in the future, are a part of family foundations, or grew up in families with wealth, but might currently have difficulty affording full registration costs. If this category pertains to you, please pay what you can within this sliding scale.

  • $1,300 ($1,200 for RG Members): Full Cost Registration. For those who can afford the full per-person cost. If possible, we ask participants to pay the full per-person cost of $1,300. Right now, MMMC is subsidized and supported by progressive foundations that are leading the way in supporting grassroots movements for change. In the long-term, it makes sense for us as progressive young people with wealth to take on the cost of the retreat, and help foundations instead move the resources they put into MMMC into grassroots movements. If you are able, please join others in paying a the full cost of your participation.

  • $1,500 ($1,400 for RG Members): Solidarity Registration. As people who recognize the value of this conference in our lives and to our movements, it makes sense for us to take responsibility for a larger part of its costs. Many folks are not able to pay the at-cost fee. If you can, please consider paying more than the cost of only your own registration, and join us in our efforts to get MMMC to a place where young people with wealth not only lead and support each other’s journeys, but also give financial leadership and support to keep this community and this space available.

Please let us know if you would like information about our budget or if you have questions about our financial priorities.  You can contact our 2011 Retreat Director, Sarah Schwartz Sax, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .