Selling Merch to Fundraise: A Complete Guide for Nonprofits

Nonprofits are always looking for fresh ways to secure funding and engage with their communities. Selling merch, like custom t-shirts, hoodies, or totes, is a fantastic solution. Merch helps raise funds while offering a different approach to increasing visibility and connecting organizations with supporters.

This complete guide explains how to create and sell merch using print-on-demand, making it easy for nonprofits to get started without upfront inventory costs or logistical headaches. Whether offering classic staples or trending products, merch not only helps nonprofits bring in much-needed revenue, but creates a sense of belonging among supporters. 

Keep reading to find out how to set up your own merch store in just a few simple steps.

Why use merch for fundraising? 

Merch can be a powerful fundraising tool for nonprofits. Here’s how:

• Creates awareness

Wearing popular items like custom hoodies with an organization’s logo or message can turn supporters into walking billboards. This exposure raises awareness and attracts new advocates willing to invest time and money in your mission.

• Diversifies funding efforts

Selling merch allows nonprofits to diversify fundraising strategies beyond traditional methods. By incorporating merch sales into your plans, your organization can reach different demographics and engage supporters who may not have been inclined to contribute in other ways.

• Provides recurring revenue

Unlike one-time donations, selling merch allows for a sustainable revenue stream. By adding best-selling print-on-demand products like custom hats or tees, new items can be offered regularly to help keep supporters interested.

Source: Printful

Bulk ordering vs. using POD for merch 

When it comes to selling merch, nonprofits have two main options: ordering products in bulk or using print-on-demand (POD).

Ordering in bulk can sometimes be more cost-effective per unit, but it requires an upfront investment and storage space. Plus, there’s always the risk of unsold items.

Print-on-demand services like Printful allow custom products to be created without holding inventory. Products are printed and shipped as soon as a customer places an order, making it a flexible and low-risk option for nonprofits.

Set up a merch store in 7 steps

Creating an online store to sell nonprofit merch can be simple and straightforward with the right POD provider. Here’s how to do it using Printful.

1. Sign up

Visit Printful’s website and sign up for a free account if you don’t already have one. All you need to add is your name, email, and a password.

Source: Printful 

2. Create your store 

Printful’s Quick Stores tool is designed for those who want to set up a store fast—no technical or website-building skills required. It’s ideal for nonprofits looking to get started quickly.

Once you’re logged in, go to your Printful Dashboard to create a store. In your Dashboard, go to Stores > Quick Stores, and click Create store now.

Note: Quick Stores is currently only available for merchants in the US, and products can only be delivered to US addresses.

Source: Printful

You’ll need to fill out some information about your new store. A popup window will open where you can do that.

Below are the sections you’ll need to fill in.

• Store name: Choose a name that makes sense for your nonprofit. This name will be displayed to your customers, so it’s an important part of your brand identity. For example, if your NGO is called Clean Rivers Collective, you could go with Clean Rivers Gear or Clean Rivers Shop to keep things cohesive.

• Custom website address: Create a custom website address for your store. This URL will be the primary site where supporters can find your merch, so make sure it’s simple, memorable, and directly associated with your nonprofit. Note that the URL can’t be changed later, so choose wisely.

• Your logo: If you have a logo, upload it to give your store a more professional look. If you don’t have a logo, your store name will be displayed instead.

• Country of tax residence: Select your country of tax residence. Remember that Quick Stores is currently only available for merchants in the US, and products can only be delivered to US addresses.

• Default markup: Set your default markup percentage. This is the percentage added to the Printful price to determine the retail price of your products. You can always change this later or adjust the percentage for each product individually.

Review the store details you’ve entered. When you’re ready, click Create store. And that’s it! Your nonprofit merch store is ready for products.

Here’s a sample storefront of a store created using Quick Stores.

3. Design custom products

Once your store is set up, you can start designing your nonprofit merch. Printful’s catalog offers a wide selection of products, including everything from custom tees and sweatshirts to accessories and home decor. You can use our free Design Maker to upload your artwork or create designs from clipart and text. This makes it easy to create the perfect designs that reflect your nonprofit’s mission and values.

Valuable read: 50 Surprisingly Creative Merch Ideas

To design and add products, first locate your newly created store by going to the left-hand menu on your Printful Dashboard and clicking Stores. 

Then, select a product you want to sell on your nonprofit merch store. You can choose from apparel, accessories, home decor, and more to create meaningful merch that supports your cause.

Use Printful’s free Design Maker to customize the product with original designs that make sense for your nonprofit merch. You can upload your logo or mission-focused artwork, adjust its placement, and preview how it will look on the final product.

4. Create mockups and add product details

Once your design is ready, it’s time to create product mockups. Add a title and write a compelling description that highlights your nonprofit’s mission. These elements are crucial for engaging supporters and informing them about how their purchase contributes to your cause.

5. Set product pricing

Adjust the pricing for each product as needed. The default markup you set earlier will determine the initial retail price, but you can fine-tune this to maximize contributions to your nonprofit’s mission.

6. Publish your products

Once you’re happy with the product’s design and pricing, click Publish to make it live on your store. Your custom nonprofit merch will now be available to supporters, allowing them to contribute to your cause through every purchase.

7. Start selling and get paid

Share your nonprofit merch store with your community and supporters who are invested in your cause. Use social media, newsletters, and community events to spread the word and encourage purchases that directly benefit your organization.

Read 11 Effective Ways to Market a Product

For your nonprofit to receive earnings from your store, you’ll have to set up payouts. To do that, in your Printful Dashboard, go to Billing > Quick Stores payments and then click Set up payouts.

To process payments on your Quick Stores shop, Printful has partnered with Stripe, a secure payments processor. When creating a store with Quick Stores, you’ll be asked to provide bank account details to onboard with Stripe. To do so, fill out the form in Quick Stores’ Billing section.

Each month, Printful will automatically transfer your merch profits to the bank account you’ve listed if the payout amount exceeds $25. If it’s less than that, you’ll have to wait until you hit $25 (the next month or so on).

Your gateway to impactful fundraising

Using Quick Stores to create your nonprofit merch store is the easiest and most efficient way to jumpstart your online selling journey. And partnering with Printful means everything from printing and fulfillment to shipping and logistics is being handled on behalf of your organization, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: your cause and your community. 

By following this step-by-step merch maker guide, you can set up your store, design unique products, and start making an impact in no time. Whether you’re selling custom t-shirts, trending accessories, or heartfelt gifts, remember that every purchase helps advance your mission and fosters a sense of belonging among supporters. 

The next step? As you grow your nonprofit’s merch offerings, you might want to explore other integrations and ecommerce platforms. These options can provide greater customization for your store, increased control over branding, and the ability to reach global audiences.

Get started today and turn your followers’ passion into profit for the cause.