Your Field Guide
No one fundraises alone.
Behind every successful campaign is a community — friends, family, churches, small groups, neighbors, and purchasers. They've been placed in your life for a reason. Your job isn't to convince them. Your job is to invite them.
The Playbook
How to Fundraise
Whether you're going on mission, funding a team, or rallying your community, the best fundraisers all share a few simple ingredients.
TL;DR — The 4-Step Process
STEP 1
Craft Your Story
Write down why you're doing this in your own voice — then reuse it everywhere.
STEP 2
List Your Social Circles
Brainstorm every group of people in your life — you'll be surprised who shows up.
STEP 3
Establish Your Support Channels
Give people three ways to help: pray, purchase, partner.
STEP 4
Launch Your Campaign
Big splash, clear goal, short window, consistent follow-up.
Craft Your Story
Take time to reflect on what brought you here. What moments, people, or convictions sparked your mission, team, or cause? Write it down — even a rough version helps you find your voice.
Give a brief introduction of who you are and what you're raising money for. Then share a few specifics: who it benefits, what it makes possible, and why now.
Close with what you're hoping happens because of this fundraiser. Make your excitement obvious and your purpose clear. Once it's written, it's okay to use AI to help polish it — just keep it sounding like YOU. Save a few versions for different contexts (social posts, support letters, in-person conversations).
List Your Social Circles
List out the groups of people you think might support you. This doesn't have to be individual names — just buckets of contacts you have access to. You never know what God can do in someone's heart when you simply ask.
Examples:
- •Family (immediate and extended)
- •Social media followers
- •Church members and small groups
- •School friends, teachers, and coaches
- •Your parents' friends
- •Coworkers and neighbors
Establish Your Support Channels
When someone wants to support you, what do they do next? We suggest giving people at least three easy options: Pray, Purchase, Partner.
Pray
Prayer is the foundation of every mission. If a purchaser offers to pray for you, give them a short list of immediate needs — and keep them updated as your fundraiser unfolds.
Purchase
A great kick-off to any fundraiser is offering a tangible item that connects people with your mission. T-shirts, hats, and stickers are products people enjoy, have a great profit margin, and can build your starter fund quickly. (More on the t-shirt path below — it's our specialty.)
Partner
One-time donations and ongoing support are critical. Make it easy for donors to give — publish your Venmo/Cash App handle, share an address for checks, and send periodic reminders. That's not greedy — that's being effective.
Launch Your Campaign
A campaign is your effort to spread the word about what you're working toward and invite others to commit to supporting you. Think of a political candidate raising awareness in the months before an election — except this is for your cause, and the people in your life will be excited to be part of it. But you have to invite them.
- 1.Start with a big splash. Let everyone know — especially on social media — what you're doing and why. Use your story and a recent photo. Keep it short, but hit the important points.
- 2.Set a goal and a deadline. People need to know how much you're hoping to raise and how long they have to give. T-shirt fundraisers work best with a short window (2–3 weeks). Give updates along the way and make a big deal out of every milestone.
- 3.Make yourself easily accessible. Open your social profiles, make your posts public, and let people DM, text, or call you.
- 4.Just keep swimming. Asking doesn't come naturally to most of us. Remember: you're not asking for yourself — you're inviting people to step into something bigger. The average person sees an ad seven times before responding. Every post, text, and email is one of many touch points. Don't be shy.
Our Specialty
The T-Shirt Fundraiser
Selling t-shirts is one of the most effective ways to raise money. When you combine your story with a product people enjoy and want to wear, fundraising becomes a joy instead of an obligation — for you and your purchasers.
Why Fund the Nations
- ✓Free custom graphic design from our in-house team
- ✓Free shipping on every order
- ✓A real Project Coordinator to walk with you the whole way
- ✓An online Campaign platform that tracks orders, collects payments, and runs your whole pre-sale for you
- ✓Zero risk — only pay for what you sell
Keep More of What You Raise
How to Make More From Your T-Shirt Fundraiser
A successful fundraiser isn't just about selling more shirts. It's about keeping more of what you raise. Here are six ways to maximize your profits.
TIP 1
Keep Your Costs Low
The less you spend on each shirt, the more money goes toward your cause. Simple designs, smart product choices, and fewer options help keep your costs down.
TIP 2
Don't Underprice Your Shirts
We recommend selling your shirts for at least $10 more than they cost. Don't be afraid to charge $25–$40. Your supporters know they're contributing to a cause, not just buying a T-shirt.
TIP 3
Design for Everyone
Choose a design that appeals to a wide audience, not just you and your closest friends. A great gender-neutral design gives more people a reason to buy.
TIP 4
Keep It Simple
Stick with one design, one shirt style, and as few ink colors as possible. More options increase costs and complicate ordering. Remember, each design requires a minimum of 13 shirts. Youth sizes also require a separate minimum of 13 at the same cost as adult shirts.
TIP 5
Skip the Online Store Fees
Traditional online stores can add processing fees and other expenses. Use your free FTN Campaign Page to collect pre-orders and direct supporters to your preferred payment methods, like Venmo, Cash App, or checks.
TIP 6
Make Pickup the Easy Option
Shipping individual orders adds costs that can discourage purchases. We ship your bulk order to you for free, so you can distribute shirts locally. If you offer individual shipping, be sure to account for those costs when setting your prices.
Ready to start?
Tell us a little about your group and what you're raising money for. A Project Coordinator will reach out to walk through next steps.
Start a Fundraiser