Fundraising for nonprofit organizations, sports teams, and special events is never an easy task. Some of the traditional staples of fundraising—candy bars, raffles, pizza—may not always appeal to people who might otherwise donate. Plus, many of these products have short shelf lives, which means your organization's brand is quickly forgotten.

Apparel products, on the other hand, have both wide appeal and a lengthy life, which makes them an excellent choice for fundraising. Until recently, products such as t-shirts and hats were the go-to choice; however, there has been a growing interest in knitted products such as socks. Before purchasing custom socks, be sure to plan accordingly.

To maximize your success, you will want to estimate the type of demand you’ll generate and determine whether or not your pricing will meet fundraising goals. You will also want to offer socks that appeal to your target donors. Custom dress socks (or casual socks) and custom crew socks have broad appeal, while and custom knee socks will typically appeal to a smaller demographic.

There are a number of ways to use socks in your fundraising efforts:

• Market and sell them directly to donors at events, as spirit wear
• Offer year-round for purchase on your website
• Use them as incentives to by giving them to people who donate a certain amount (especially good for annual giving drives)To attract interest, promote the sock fundraiser on all of your outreach outlets, including your website, social media platforms, newsletter, donor lists, office, and at booths you set up at community events, volunteer fairs, etc.

If you’re soliciting donations for a non-profit organization, consider giving a pair to your staff, volunteers, and board members. Encourage them to wear them in public and show them off at every opportunity. If you’re raising funds for a sports team, musical group, or youth organization, the students should be wearing the socks every chance they get to garner interest.

About the author

EVERSOX is a worldwide supplier of custom branded socks for businesses, retailers, and promotional products distributors — with over 10,000 designs manufactured & 100 major brands served since 2010.