Elevate Cash for Your Nonprofit With an On-line Retailer

On the lookout for a solution to revolutionize your nonprofit’s fundraising technique? We’ve obtained the reply for you – an internet retailer. Promoting nonprofit merchandise in an internet retailer not solely revitalizes your group’s fundraising strategy, but in addition expands your attain, captivates your supporters, and ensures a sustained affect all year long.

This step-by-step information has all the things it’s essential launch and run a profitable on-line retailer in your nonprofit. We’ll cowl all the things from doable advantages, to learn how to arrange your retailer, and even go over some finest practices for retailer promotion. Collectively, we will unlock the total potential of e-commerce in your trigger. 

Able to get began? Let’s leap proper in!

On this publish we are going to cowl:

Advantages of Nonprofit On-line Shops

When expertise and group be part of forces, they create lasting affect. Nonprofit on-line shops are a primary instance of this collaboration – expertise and group working collectively easily and successfully. Having an internet retailer can revolutionize the sport for nonprofits and supply a flexible strategy to fundraising. 

Past being a transactional area, on-line shops function a strategic avenue so that you can enlarge your presence and propel your group in direction of reaching lasting and significant change. 

Advantages for Nonprofit On-line Shops Embody:

World Attain: Having an internet presence permits your nonprofit to succeed in a wider viewers. This extends your affect past your native communities and doubtlessly attracts new supporters globally.

Model Visibility and Recognition: Branded merchandise serves as a strolling commercial in your nonprofit. When supporters showcase and put on your gadgets, they improve your model visibility and recognition.

Neighborhood Engagement: Promoting merchandise in your nonprofit in an internet retailer fosters a direct connection between you and your supporters. This nurtures a way of group engagement.

Donor Incentives: Merchandise is usually a compelling incentive for donors – encouraging contributions and providing a tangible solution to acknowledge their assist.

Knowledge Insights: On-line gross sales offer you essential details about supporter preferences and shopping for habits. This helps you modify your merchandise and advertising methods accordingly.

Steady Fundraising: Not like one-time occasions, an internet retailer operates constantly, offering a constant avenue for fundraising efforts with out being tied to particular dates or places. Your on-line retailer can all the time be lively!

Integrating Your On-line Retailer into Your Fundraising Technique

In terms of incorporating an internet retailer into your fundraising technique, the excellent news is that it doesn’t necessitate a whole overhaul of your current strategy. This course of is extra about strategic integration than a radical transformation.

By strategically introducing your on-line retailer into your present fundraising initiatives, you may faucet into a spread of advantages that reach past conventional strategies.

Tips on how to Combine Your Nonprofit On-line Retailer Into Your Technique:

Strategic Merchandise Choice: Select merchandise that aligns together with your nonprofit’s mission and resonates together with your audience. Once you supply gadgets that replicate your group’s established values and function, you safe a stronger connection together with your supporters.

Themed Campaigns: Hyperlink campaigns in your on-line retailer to particular occasions, milestones, or causes. Design merchandise that mirrors the theme, fostering a way of group and shared function.

Collaborations and Partnerships: Make the most of collaborations with artists, influencers, or different organizations to co-create and promote unique merchandise. Initiatives like these develop your attain and convey contemporary views to your merchandise choice.

Incorporate Storytelling: Embody points of storytelling in your product descriptions and advertising supplies. Share the affect of every buy, connecting the merchandise to your mission and the distinction it makes.

Selecting the Greatest Platform for Your On-line Retailer

Choosing the precise platform in your nonprofit’s on-line retailer is pivotal for fulfillment. This alternative is greater than a technical choice—it’s a strategic transfer that immediately influences the effectiveness of your fundraising initiatives, person expertise, and general engagement together with your group of supporters. 

The platform you select turns into the spine of your fundraising efforts, impacting integration capabilities and, finally, contributing to the achievement of your group’s mission.

What to Think about When Selecting a Platform:

Ease of Use: It’s essential to discover a platform with a user-friendly interface that makes it straightforward for each directors and clients to navigate.

Price Construction: Perceive the platform’s pricing mannequin – together with transaction charges, subscription prices, and any extra costs. Select an answer that aligns together with your funds and monetary targets.

Bonfire Prices: Bonfire’s platform is free to make use of and requires no upfront prices! Bonfire is a superb alternative for nonprofits, similar to you, who’re on the lookout for cost-friendly on-line retailer platforms! 

Integration Capabilities: Be sure the platform you select works properly together with your present methods – like fee choices, accounting software program, and buyer relationship administration instruments.

Bonfire Integrations: Bonfire presents a YouTube Merch Shelf integration that allows you to promote merch immediately in your YouTube channel and a Linktree integration that allows you to add your retailer and merchandise immediately in your profile.

Bonfire makes it straightforward to launch peer-to-peer t-shirt fundraisers by way of our Giving Campaigns. Our integrations with leading platforms like Classy and BlackBaud TeamRaiser ensure seamless p2p t-shirt fundraisers for your organization. Opting for a versatile merch platform sets your organization up for both current and future success.

Customization Options: Look for platforms that allow you to customize your online store. That way you can make sure your store aligns with your nonprofit’s branding and mission. 

Customer Support: Evaluate the level of customer support provided by the platform. Responsive and accessible support can be crucial for troubleshooting issues and ensuring smooth operations.

Analytics and Reporting: Opt for platforms that offer robust analytics and reporting tools. These insights can help you understand customer behavior, track sales, and refine your strategy.

Nonprofit Features on Bonfire: Bonfire offers a full suite of features that were designed specifically to help nonprofits raise more money and connect with their community through custom apparel.

Reduced Donation Fees on Bonfire: Once your nonprofit is verified on Bonfire, all of your processing fees are significantly reduced from 8% to 3.5%.

Bonfire Verified Nonprofit Badge: A green heart with a checkmark will appear next to your org name on your org page and campaign page. This is a symbol of trust that lets your supporters know their money will directly benefit your organization.

Customizable Organization Profile Pages on Bonfire: Your organization’s official profile page is your nonprofit’s home to tell your story, highlight active campaigns, and show off your fundraising stats.

Downloadable Supporter List on Bonfire: You have the option to effortlessly export the contact details of your supporters from all your connected campaigns – in a user-friendly .CSV format.

Payment Options: Make sure the platform you choose offers a variety of payment options for your supporters.

Deciding What Products to Sell

The products you choose to sell in your nonprofit’s online store go beyond just making sales. When you choose the right products, you ensure financial sustainability and help to shape the overall identity of your nonprofit. Think of your merchandise as a way to tell your story – this strengthens the emotional connection between your cause and your community. 

Things to Consider When Deciding What Products to Sell:

Relevance to Mission: Choose products that directly align with your nonprofit’s mission and values. This reinforces your organization’s identity and resonates with your supporters.

Target Audience: Understand your target audience and their preferences. Select products that appeal to your supporters and foster a stronger connection with your cause.

Quality and Sustainability: Prioritize high-quality products that reflect positively on your organization. Additionally, consider sustainable and eco-friendly options to align with contemporary values.

Costs and Profit Margins: Evaluate the production and procurement costs of the products to ensure a reasonable profit margin. This ensures that your online store contributes meaningfully to your fundraising efforts.

Practicality and Usability: Choose products that your supporters will find practical and usable in their everyday lives. This increases the likelihood of repeat purchases and ongoing support.

Pricing Your Products

It’s important to be intentional with how you price your products. You want to make sure your prices are accessible to your target market, while still covering your costs. 

This approach transforms transactions into meaningful contributions, reinforcing financial sustainability and fostering lasting connections with your community.

What to Think About When Pricing Your Products:

Fundraising Goals: Consider your organization’s fundraising goals and precisely calculate the revenue required from merchandise sales to support your programs and initiatives. Clearly articulate how merchandise sales align with and contribute to your fundraising strategy.

Transparency: Clearly inform donors how their purchase contributes to your nonprofit’s mission and provide regular updates on how the proceeds make a positive impact.

Market Research: Research the market price range for similar merchandise to understand your target audience’s pricing expectations.

Feedback from Supporters: Collect supporter feedback on pricing to gain valuable insights into their perceived value and willingness to pay.

Setting Up Your Online Store

Building your nonprofit online store on Bonfire is super easy. Once you have a Bonfire account, you can select the Store tab on the dashboard to begin! You’ll be prompted to name your store (we recommend using your org name to keep things consistent). You can change your store name at any time.

Next, you’ll be able to add merch campaigns (minimum of 1 and a maximum of 50 campaigns) and customize the look of your store. Once you’ve got everything set, all you have to do is hit Publish and your store will be LIVE! If it sounds too good to be true, let us assure you – it’s too good AND it’s true! We told you it was easy! 

Helpful Resources:
Create a Store
Manage Campaigns in Your Store
Change Store Settings
How to Create and Customize an Online Merch Store With Bonfire

Now that you have your nonprofit online store up and running – it’s time to promote it to your community! Effectively promoting your online store helps drive visibility and encourages supporters to contribute. Strategic promotion not only boosts sales, but also broadens your audience, fostering long-term relationships with those aligned with your mission. 

Ways to Promote Your Online Store:

Post on Social Media: Use relevant social media platforms to showcase your products. Engage your audience with impactful visuals – including photos and videos. It’s also a great idea to re-share user-generated content as a way of promoting your merchandise! 

Website Integration: Feature your online store prominently on your website. You want to make it as easy as possible for visitors to explore and learn about your merchandise.

Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with influencers, both within and outside the nonprofit sector, to extend your reach. Influencers can help promote your products to their followers, generating more interest.

Run Promotions and Campaigns: Create promotions or campaigns tied to specific events, holidays, or milestones. Limited-time offers or exclusive items can drive urgency and boost sales.

Create Compelling Content: Develop compelling and shareable content about your online store and the impact of purchases. This could include success stories, behind-the-scenes footage, or interviews with beneficiaries.

Utilize Paid Advertising: Consider using paid advertising on social media platforms or other relevant channels to reach a broader audience. Target your ads to specific demographics or interests.

Highlight Impact: Emphasize the impact of purchases. Clearly communicate how funds raised through the online store contribute to your nonprofit’s mission. Your supporters will appreciate knowing how their purchases contributed to positive change. 

Exploring online stores can offer a world of benefits for your nonprofit. Following this guide lets you diversify revenue, engage a wider audience, and strengthen your community ties. Gear up to transform your nonprofit’s future – launch that online store and unleash the power of digital impact, today!

Written by: Hayden Ireland / Content Specialist
Illustrated by: Madison Summers / Lead Marketing Designer