Inside MYNA Finance: The Team Behind the Camps
Have you ever wondered how MYNA camps are actually funded? How does registration work, and where does the money go? In this blog, I’ll be answering those questions and more. I interviewed members of MYNA’s Finance Department to better understand what really happens behind the scenes when it comes to budgeting, fundraising, and making camp possible.
While campers see the fun activities, workshops, and food, there’s a whole team working in the background to make sure everything runs smoothly financially. The Finance Department plays a major role in planning and supporting MYNA events across different regions. Below are the members I interviewed and the positions they currently hold for the 2025–2026 term.
South Central Finance – Zacharay Elfar
Age: 17
Lives in: Arizona
Attended: 10 camps
Q: How did you first get involved with MYNA’s finance department?
A: On my second camp, I joined the subcommittee and stayed on it for a while. After I moved to South Central and met Mustafa Qadir, I was encouraged to apply for the finance position.
Q: What skills have you personally gained from being part of MYNA’s finance department?
A: Fundraising is definitely a skill. You can be a great public speaker but not good at fundraising. It takes a lot of practice and experience to improve.
Pacific Finance – Tahir Bawaney
Age: 16
Lives in: Bay Area
Attended: 12 camps
Q: How did you first get involved with MYNA’s finance department?
A: Last year I was in Outreach and worked closely with the finance department. I got interested in what they were doing, so I applied for finance this year.
Q: What skills have you personally gained from being part of MYNA’s finance department?
A: Communication skills, marketing, cold calling, and sales.
Midwest Finance – Raihan Khobaib
Age: 18
Lives in: Ohio
Attended: 3–4 camps
Q: How did you first get involved with MYNA’s finance department?
A: I got involved about two years ago. My family has always been involved, so it was something I always wanted to do.
Q: What skills have you personally gained from being part of MYNA’s finance department?
A: Asking for donations isn’t as hard as I thought it would be, and budgeting is much more complex than people realize.
North Central Finance – Ghazwan Almoutem
Age: 19
Lives in: Kentucky
Attended: 7–8 camps
Q: How did you first get involved with MYNA’s finance department?
A: I started getting involved through Qiyam nights a few years ago, and that eventually led me to join the REC.
Q: What skills have you personally gained from being part of MYNA’s finance department?
A: Communication and teamwork.
Mid Atlantic Finance – Rakan Ali
Age: 17
Lives in: Virginia
Attended: 7–8 camps
Q: How did you first get involved with MYNA’s finance department?
A: I was Secretary last year and handled some financial responsibilities, which made me interested in applying for the finance position this year.
Q: What skills have you personally gained from being part of MYNA’s finance department?
A: Learning how to improvise on the spot and how to appeal to different people during outreach.
South Atlantic Finance – Adam Mukhtar
Age: 14
Lives in: Puerto Rico
Attended: 4 camps
Q: How did you first get involved with MYNA’s finance department?
A: My sister was involved in MYNA, and she told me I would be good at finance, so I decided to try it.
Q: What skills have you personally gained from being part of MYNA’s finance department?
A: People skills and strengthening my math skills.
DEI Finance – Hiba Qadri
Age: 12
Lives in: Florida
General Questions
Q: What does the finance department do when planning a MYNA camp?
A: The department focuses on raising money, organizing fundraising efforts, and promoting camp to ensure it is financially supported.
Q: What role does merchandise (like MYNA merch) play in camp finances?
A: Merchandise is often sold alongside snacks and is popular among campers. It helps raise additional funds while also promoting camp spirit.
Q: How has this role helped you grow in responsibility or leadership?
A: It has helped me learn how to adapt, handle setbacks, and keep going even when things don’t go as planned.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in joining MYNA’s finance department?
A: Just go for it. It may seem intimidating at first, but it’s not as hard as it looks.
Q: What happens if a camp goes over budget?
A: There are savings set aside that can help cover unexpected costs.
Q: Beyond camp, what other financial responsibilities does the MYNA finance department handle?
A: The department runs financial campaigns, supports events, and helps generate funds for MYNA programs overall.
Q: How does the finance department work with other departments or leadership in MYNA?
A: Finance works closely with Outreach and Marketing to promote events and fundraising efforts.
Q: How does MYNA manage finances across different regions?
A: Each region has its own finance representative who is responsible for managing that region’s financial planning and reporting.
Q: What’s one misconception people have about MYNA finances?
A: Some people think the finance department doesn’t do much, but they actually fund all camps and events and are one of the hardest-working departments. Another misconception is that fundraising is always easy—it can be simple at times, but it can also be challenging, and it’s important not to be too hard on yourself.
Q: What’s another misconception people have about MYNA finances?
A: Some believe camp registration is too expensive, but in reality, campsites, food, and program materials cost a lot, and the pricing reflects those necessary expenses.
Conclusion
Managing MYNA’s finances takes much more work than most people realize. From creating detailed budgets to planning registration costs and leading fundraising efforts, the Finance Department plays a major role in making camp possible. Every decision requires responsibility and careful planning, but they all share one common goal: ensuring MYNA can continue providing meaningful and accessible experiences for youth.
What makes this even more impactful is that much of this responsibility is handled by youth themselves. Through finance, they gain leadership, accountability, communication skills, and real-world financial experience. While campers may not always see the work happening behind the scenes, it directly shapes their entire experience. Without the dedication of the finance team, MYNA camps simply would not run the way they do. Their work may not always be visible, but it is essential to everything MYNA stands for.
