Girl Scout Fundraiser Shirts to Raise Money for Troop Activities

Girl Scout troop fundraising does not have to begin and end with cookie season. A custom shirt fundraiser through Bear Grips Pro Shops earns the troop $10 or more per shirt sold with no inventory, no upfront cost, and no distribution logistics. Troop families buy shirts they actually want to wear, the shirts ship directly to each family, and the troop collects the margin on every sale. Here is how the economics work and how to set it up.

How a Shirt Fundraiser Works for Girl Scout Troops

A troop shirt fundraiser through Bear Grips Pro Shops works in four steps:

1. Design the shirt. Choose a design that the whole troop and troop families will want to wear. The troop number, a compelling slogan, and a great color work for most fundraiser shirts. See our troop shirt design guide for ideas.
2. Open a store. Create a free Bear Grips Pro Shops store with the shirt design. Set the retail price above the base cost. At a $10 margin on a $19.88 base tee, set the price at $29.88. At a $15 margin, set it at $34.88.
3. Share the store link. Send the link to all troop families through the troop communication channel. Include a close date for the fundraiser (typically 2 to 3 weeks).
4. Collect the margin. When each shirt sells, the margin is deposited to the troop account. Shirts ship directly to each purchasing family. No pickup coordination, no distribution at the next meeting.

Revenue Math: How Much a Shirt Fundraiser Earns

The revenue potential for a troop shirt fundraiser depends on the number of families in the troop, how many items each family purchases, and the margin per item. Realistic projections:

Troop Size	Avg. Items per Family	Margin per Shirt	Fundraiser Revenue
10 Scouts	2 (Scout + parent)	$10	$200
15 Scouts	2	$10	$300
20 Scouts	2.5	$12	$600
25 Scouts	3 (Scout + 2 adults)	$10	$750

A troop of 15 Scouts where each family buys one shirt for the Scout and one for a parent raises $300 in a single fundraiser. Extend the fundraiser to friends and extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles) and the number grows. Share the link publicly (through the troop's Facebook group or community channels) and anyone who wants to support the troop can buy a shirt.

Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.

What to Sell Beyond the Standard T-Shirt

A shirt fundraiser does not have to mean only t-shirts. Adding higher-margin items to the store increases the average order value and total fundraiser revenue:

• Hoodies: A custom hoodie in the same troop design as the shirt earns more margin per item. At a $12 margin on a $36.88 base hoodie, the retail price is $48.88. Families buying for multiple household members often prefer the hoodie as the higher-value item. Starting at $36.88 VIP.
• Hats: A custom snapback or mesh hat in the troop colors at a $10 margin earns from a shorter attention span than the shirt. Families who already have a troop shirt from a prior season may buy a hat instead. Starting at $25.88 VIP. See our troop hat guide.
• Tanks: A performance or cotton tank in the troop design for summer or camp. Adds a seasonal option without requiring a completely separate fundraiser design.

A mixed store with a tee, a hoodie, and a hat gives each buyer three purchasing options and increases the likelihood of families buying more than one item.

Promoting the Fundraiser Within the Troop Community

A Girl Scout troop shirt fundraiser has a natural, built-in audience: the troop families themselves. A few ways to expand beyond the core audience:

• Share in the troop parent group. WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or email. A direct message with the store link, the close date, and the fundraiser purpose ("All proceeds go toward our summer camp fund") gives families the context to decide quickly.
• Ask grandparents and extended family. Many grandparents are happy to buy a shirt if asked directly. A note from the troop leader explaining the fundraiser reaches the family members who are most likely to buy as a gift to support their grandchild's troop.
• Post in the community neighborhood group. For troops with strong community ties, a post in the local neighborhood group ("Supporting Troop [Number] - 100% of profits go toward our camp fund") reaches community members who want to support local youth programs without being in the troop network.
• Set the close date and communicate it clearly. A deadline is the strongest sales tool for a fundraiser. Without one, purchases trickle in indefinitely. "This fundraiser closes on [date]. Order by then to receive your shirt before camp." gives the event urgency.

Troop Fundraiser vs Cookie Season: How They Compare

Cookie season is the most familiar Girl Scout fundraiser and the one with the most established infrastructure. How does a custom shirt fundraiser compare?

Factor	Cookie Fundraiser	Custom Shirt Fundraiser
Upfront cost	None	None
Inventory handling	Yes (sorting, storing, delivering)	None (ships direct)
Sales season	January to April	Any time of year
Margin per item	Varies by council	You set it ($10-15 typical)
External customer reach	High (public cookie tables)	Moderate (shareable link)
Logistics complexity	High	Low

The shirt fundraiser is not meant to replace cookie season but to complement it. A fall shirt fundraiser (timed to back-to-school) and a spring fundraiser (timed to camp season) gives the troop two additional revenue events per year with minimal effort compared to the cookie program logistics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Girl Scout troop do a fundraiser by selling custom shirts?

Yes. Open a Bear Grips Pro Shops store with the troop design, set a retail price above the base cost, share the link with troop families, and collect the margin on every shirt sold. No inventory, no upfront cost, no distribution logistics.

How much money can a Girl Scout troop raise selling shirts?

A troop of 15 Scouts where each family buys 2 shirts (Scout + parent) at a $10 margin earns $300 per fundraiser. Extend the link to extended family and community and the total grows. A mixed store with shirts, hoodies, and hats increases average order value.

Does a troop shirt fundraiser require upfront money?

No. Bear Grips Pro Shops is print-on-demand. Each shirt prints and ships when purchased. The troop earns the margin without buying inventory upfront or handling distribution.

When is the best time to run a Girl Scout troop shirt fundraiser?

Fall (back-to-school, camp sign-up season) and spring (before camp or end-of-year events) are the most natural windows. Both complement cookie season without overlapping. A bridging ceremony or milestone event is also a natural fundraiser moment.