Bear Grips Pro ShopsDebate Team Fundraising With Apparel
- Apparel as a year-round fundraiser instead of a one-time bulk order.
- How a 40-debater program funds travel, fees, and banquet from apparel margin.
- Booster club model: route margin to the program account or 501(c)(3).
- No upfront cost, no inventory, runs in the background of every season.
The traditional debate program fundraiser is the once-a-year bulk apparel order. Coach collects sizes, parents write checks, the booster club places a 36-shirt order, and the program clears $3 to $5 per shirt of margin after the local screen printer fees. That single fundraiser earns a small program about $150. Pro Shops turns the same apparel demand into a year-round fundraiser that earns 5 to 15x more without the coach ever touching a check.
The Year-Round Apparel Fundraiser Model
The program opens a free Pro Shops store. The store stocks the six core items (tee, polo, quarter-zip, hoodie, crewneck, hat). Every parent, debater, alumnus, and booster who wants program apparel orders from the store. Bear Grips prints and ships every order. The program is paid the margin between the retail price and the base cost on every sale. The store never closes. The fundraiser runs continuously for the entire school year and through the off-season.
How Apparel Margin Funds the Program
Programs typically allocate apparel margin to three buckets:
- Travel scholarships. Cover tournament registration fees, hotel rooms, and bus transportation for debaters whose families cannot fund the season.
- Program supplies. Timer apps, flow paper, prep tubs, debate camp scholarships, books and topic guides for novice training.
- Banquet and awards. Year-end banquet food, venue, awards, and trophies. A robust apparel program can fund the entire banquet outright.
Revenue Comparison: Bulk Order vs Year-Round Store
| Model | Per-Item Margin | Items Sold | Annual Program Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-time 36-shirt bulk order | $4 | 36 | $144 |
| Pro Shops year-round store, 40 debaters | $15 avg | ~88 (multi-item) | $1,320 |
| Pro Shops year-round store, 80 debaters | $15 avg | ~192 (multi-item) | $2,880 |
The year-round store wins because it captures repeat purchases, parent and alumni buyers, banquet week, and the senior class hoodie cycle. The bulk order captures only the one back-to-school moment.
Booster Club Setup and Payout Routing
Programs with a booster club typically route the apparel store account through the booster, with payouts deposited directly to the booster bank account. Programs without a booster route the account through the coach individual account and forward the margin to the program funds each month. The Pro Shops payout schedule is bi-weekly for affiliate program participants. Apparel margin is paid out per the standard payout cycle.
Adding the Affiliate Program for Extra Revenue
Every Pro Shops account gets a free affiliate link. Programs can earn an extra 10 percent commission on any other vendor (gym, studio, club) that signs up through their referral link, plus $1 per unit that referred vendor sells, paid bi-weekly. A debate program with active alumni in coaching or fitness can compound apparel margin with affiliate margin from referred vendors. See the Bear Grips affiliate program for full details.
Turn Apparel Into a Year-Round Fundraiser
Open a free program store and run apparel as a continuous fundraiser. No inventory, no checks, every order ships direct.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How much can a debate program raise per year through apparel?
Realistic ranges: $300 to $500 for a 15-debater novice program, $1,000 to $1,500 for a 40-debater program, $2,500 to $4,000 for an 80-debater program, $5,000+ for large district programs. Booster engagement and parent purchases can double these numbers.
Do programs need a 501(c)(3) to run an apparel fundraiser?
No. Any coach, captain, or booster parent can open the store. Programs that prefer tax-deductible donations route the account through an existing 501(c)(3) booster club.
Does the program have to handle any of the fulfillment?
No. Bear Grips prints, packs, ships, and handles every customer service issue. The program only handles design uploads and store setup. After launch, the apparel fundraiser runs entirely in the background.
When does the program get paid?
Per the standard Bear Grips payout schedule. Affiliate margin is paid bi-weekly. Apparel margin is paid on the standard vendor schedule.
