T-Shirt Promotional Marketing Tips for Nonprofits

Do you ever feel limited by the budget of your nonprofit organization?

Some organizations operate on the premise that if you don’t feel limited, then it’s not a nonprofit. Despite this, nonprofit organizations are accomplishing incredible things with minuscule budgets, every day. Foundations, donors, and granters all want to see that most, or all of their money, is being directed towards the organization’s mission. Dollars are stretched. Budgets are calculated down to the last cent. Nothing is wasted.

Reconciling frugality and limited resources with the genuine need to get the word out is a balancing act that most nonprofits fall on the conservative side of. After all, it’s difficult to justify inflated marketing budgets when that money could be helping people. But remember, marketing is a way of bringing more resources, like money and people, to your cause. So, marketing can be an investment for growth.

And what better way to make that investment than with a custom T-shirt?

When it comes to costs per impression, few traditional advertising formats compete with effectiveness of T-shirts.

Before you run out and print a bunch of shirts, consider a few things.

1. Go for Quality. You can increase your ROI by buying quality screen printed shirts, a principle that applies to nonprofits and businesses alike. The additional cost is justified by the increased exposure you get when shirts are worn more often.

2. Design a Cool Shirt. One of the biggest mistakes that nonprofits, businesses, teams, and individuals make is skimping on shirt design. Don’t settle for a mediocre design. Mediocre designs are a dime a dozen. Give yourself permission to be bold. Nonprofits have a reputation for being serious and boring, so set your organization apart with a catchy, fun design, but don’t break from the carefully cultivated brand of the organization.

3. Be Picky. At least initially. One of the greatest rules of marketing is to leverage your existing customer base first. So use your shirts to leverage your donors, volunteers, and employees to work on your behalf. They are the most passionate and motivated supporters of your mission, so get them to spread the word. A high-quality shirt with an attractive design is going to spark conversations where your supporters are going to sell your organization to strangers. Set them up for success.

4. Form Partnerships. One way around a limited budget is to team up with a similar organization. Two limited budgets working together can accomplish a lot more. Decide on an equitable division of shirt real estate, so nobody gets slighted on exposure. You can team with sponsors as well. This is a familiar tactic on shirts for charity races, for just one example.

5. Don’t Wait for an Event. Many nonprofits make the mistake of starting a marketing campaign when they are looking for money. A more consistent marketing program establishes presence within a market or audience long before the call for donations. T-shirts are seen for months after they are bought or received, so shirts can be part of a general campaign to raise awareness of your nonprofit.

These are just a few of the ways that a well-conceived custom T-shirt can help your nonprofit. As one of the most cost effective forms of marketing, it is the perfect answer for tight budgets.