When I mention working with nonprofits to others in the industry, some want to run the other way. There is a false mindset that nonprofits don’t have any money and want everything for free or cheap. While this may be true in some instances, there are a lot of nonprofits that have large budgets and spend a lot of money on promo products and apparel.

There can be big money in nonprofits, including online store fundraisers, charity walks/runs, donor incentives and gifts, board member gifts, community awareness, staff uniforms, gala’s, golf outings, and other events.

The Benefits of Doing Good

There are several benefits of working with nonprofits. My favorite is the social good you are able to do for a community. Every T-shirt tells a story, and a T-shirt can be very powerful at helping a nonprofit raise awareness for its mission.

The other great part about working with nonprofits is that you can be selective on which ones you are passionate about and to what extent you want to support them.

At 1800Tshirts.com, we get bombarded with donation requests all the time from various organizations, but we have a policy of no cash donations. Our model is simple: Instead of donating $1,000 to an organization, we would rather donate $1,000 worth of goods that they could in turn raise $5,000-$10,000 with. The goal is to not give them a handout, but instead extend our hand as a partner to make an even bigger impact than what a cash donation would do.

Great custom apparel can help raise money for the organization, but more impactful than the money is the ability for the supporters getting the apparel to show their support and spread the message of the nonprofit.

There are challenges that come with the territory, such as where to draw the line between giving everything away and making it a win-win for both you and the nonprofit. The goal for the nonprofit is to maximize the donation dollars and spend them as efficiently as possible, so the max amount can go toward their mission and programs.

They will price shop, they will ask for discounts, and they will try to get the most out of the budget they have available. How are you going to react or counter these objections? What value can you offer that will provide a high return on the money invested in your company with promotional products or apparel?

Building Relationships with Nonprofits

There are several ways to begin a relationship with a nonprofit. The first is to volunteer for the nonprofit or get on the board of directors. Serving on a board is a great way to meet other business leaders in your community, get an inside look at how the nonprofit promotes its mission and gets the message out to the community, and see what products you offer that they currently use or could use.

Another is reaching out and showing your support. Support can be shown in a lot of different ways. Here is where volunteering and donating your time and talent can come into play.

This creates reciprocity. The nonprofit will often want to support your business back in return for what you’ve given them. For example, we bid on a job for a 5k race for a nonprofit, and I knew the others that wanted the job would bid completely based on price. So, I decided to do something different.

I sold the sponsorships for them for the event. I submitted my bid, which was higher than the competitors, and with it, I listed 12 other companies and the dollar amount they wanted to donate to support and essentially pay for all the T-shirts.

Look at other ways you can support the nonprofit besides just a straight discount or low bid on their order. Add value by helping find sponsors and/or connecting the nonprofit to other resources in your community, such as host venues or additional volunteers for an event. Doing so can help separate you from the competition.

Find the Balance

Working with nonprofits can be very profitable for your business, but also provide a way to showcase your talents and be a great community partner. Find the balance between giving it all away and making a profit for your business while having the freedom to support the ones you are passionate about as much as possible.

Some of the most gratifying and fulfilling jobs we’ve done have been working with nonprofits. Giving them a tool and resource to raise money, spread their message, and make an impact builds the best partnerships. This gratification and fulfillment ripples throughout our company with every member on the team. We all know that what we do is much more than just putting ink on a T-shirt, but making a difference in the lives of others in our community.