How Custom Apparel Can Help Nonprofits Raise More Money
Published by: Siobhan Ingram
Date: 07-10-2025
Fundraising is all about connection.
And custom apparel turns supporters into walking, talking advocates.
When someone wears a nonprofit’s shirt, hoodie, or hat, they aren’t just showing support.
They’re sparking conversations.
They’re keeping the mission alive—everywhere they go.
At FCE, we encourage nonprofits to think of apparel not as an expense, but an investment.
Best practices we’ve seen work:
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Design gear people want to wear—even if they aren't directly involved in the cause.
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Create limited-edition collections to build urgency.
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Tie apparel directly to specific campaigns or impact statements ("Each shirt funds 5 meals").
One animal rescue we worked with launched a limited hoodie featuring a real rescue dog's photo.
They raised over $20,000 in one campaign—because the merch carried an emotional story.
Custom apparel isn’t just merch.
It’s momentum for your mission.