The Ultimate Guide to Ordering Custom T-Shirts for Your School Fundraiser
Custom T-Shirts for School Fundraisers
School fundraisers are a great way to bring the community together while raising money for important programs. Custom t-shirts consistently rank as one of the most profitable fundraiser items because everyone loves a good t-shirt, and they serve as walking advertisements for your school.
Step 1: Choose Your Design
The design is everything. A great design sells shirts; a boring one collects dust. Here are some tips:
- Keep it simple — bold text and a clean logo work best
- Include the school name and mascot — school pride drives sales
- Add the year — makes it a collectible
- Use school colors — obvious but often overlooked
- Consider front and back — sponsor names on the back can offset costs
Step 2: Pick the Right Shirt
Not all blank t-shirts are created equal. For fundraisers, we recommend:
- Gildan 5000 — the classic heavy cotton tee, affordable and durable
- Gildan 64000 — softer feel at a slightly higher price
- Comfort Colors 1717 — premium option for a higher price point
Step 3: Size Collection
The biggest mistake fundraiser organizers make is ordering the wrong sizes. Here is a general breakdown:
- Youth S-L: 15%
- Adult S: 10%
- Adult M: 25%
- Adult L: 25%
- Adult XL: 15%
- Adult 2XL+: 10%
Step 4: Pricing for Profit
Your goal is to maximize the difference between your cost and selling price:
- Order cost: -8 per shirt (depending on quantity and print method)
- Sell for: -25 per shirt
- Profit per shirt: -17
- 100 shirts at profit = ,500 raised!
Step 5: Taking Orders
Use a simple order form (paper or Google Forms) that collects:
- Name
- Size
- Quantity
- Payment (cash, check, or Venmo/CashApp)
Why TShirt Brothers?
We specialize in school fundraiser orders because we understand the timeline pressure and budget constraints:
- No minimums — order exactly what you need
- Fast turnaround — 3-5 business days
- Free design help — we will help perfect your artwork
- Local pickup — same-day available in Tyrone and Fairburn, GA
Ready to start your fundraiser? Get a free quote or design your shirt online today.