Custom apparel is one of the most consistent fundraising tools available to schools, sports teams, churches, and nonprofits. Done right, a single shirt campaign can raise thousands of dollars with minimal effort. Here is how to structure your campaign to maximize every dollar.
The Team Store Model: Pre-Orders With No Upfront Cost
The biggest mistake fundraising groups make is ordering inventory in advance and hoping it sells. A better approach is the team store model: a 2–3 week online storefront where supporters purchase directly. Benefits include:
- Zero upfront cost — You only order what has already been paid for.
- No leftover inventory — No boxes of medium shirts gathering dust.
- Collect payment instantly — Stripe payments hit your account before the order is placed.
- Capture your audience — Every buyer becomes a contact for future campaigns.
Eagle Ridge can set up a branded storefront for your organization in about 24 hours. Ask us about team store fundraisers.
Pricing Strategy: How Much Markup Is Right?
For fundraiser shirts, aim for a retail price of roughly 2.5x to 3x your production cost. Here is a realistic example:
- Production cost (shirt + DTF print): $12 per unit
- Retail price: $28–$30
- Profit per shirt: $16–$18
- 100 shirts sold: $1,600–$1,800 raised
Premium items like hoodies and hats generate even more margin per sale and often outsell tees.
Design Tips That Sell
The design makes or breaks a fundraiser campaign. Our best-performing fundraiser shirts share a few traits:
- Year and event in the design — Collectors want a timestamp. "2026 Spring Classic" outlasts a generic logo.
- Limited edition feel — Urgency drives purchases. "Available through April 15 only" works.
- Two or three colors max — Clean, bold designs sell. Overly complex artwork deters hesitant buyers.
- Offer multiple garment styles — Tee + hoodie + long sleeve covers all age groups and weather preferences.
Pre-Order vs. Inventory: Which Is Better?
Pre-order (team store model) wins for almost every fundraiser. The exception is a walk-up event like a carnival or game-day sale, where impulse purchases justify holding 50–100 units in popular sizes. Even then, we recommend pre-selling the bulk and reserving a small walk-up stock.
Ready to launch your fundraiser? Start designing or talk to our team about setting up your store.