Student Council Fundraiser Revenue Math

What can a student council actually earn from an apparel fundraiser? The math below uses real Bear Grips Pro Shops base prices and realistic council pricing. A 25-member council on the Self-Service VIP plan can net $1,800 to $3,200 in a school year with zero inventory risk, zero upfront cost, and zero unsold T-shirts in the advisor's closet.

Margin Per Council Product (VIP Plan)

VIP base = our base price. Retail = what the council charges. Margin = the council's profit per unit.

Product	VIP Base	Retail	Margin
Council Tee (Airlume Cotton)	$19.88	$28	$8.12
Officer Polo (Gildan Pique)	$34.88	$54	$19.12
Council Sweatshirt (Perfect Soft Crew)	$34.88	$52	$17.12
Council Hoodie (Comfort Soft)	$36.88	$54	$17.12
Officer Quarter-Zip (Sport-Tek)	$29.88	$45	$15.12

Full-Year Projection: 25-Member Council

Here is what a typical 25-member high school council earns across the year, assuming standard ordering behavior:

• Officer pieces (5 officers, polo + quarter-zip + sweatshirt each): 5 polos x $19.12 + 5 quarter-zips x $15.12 + 5 sweatshirts x $17.12 = $256.80
• Council-wide spirit week tee (all 25 members): 25 tees x $8.12 = $203.00
• Council-wide hoodie or sweatshirt (winter, 25 members): 25 hoodies x $17.12 = $428.00
• Member family orders (parents and siblings buy council gear, conservative 30 units across the year): 30 units x $12 average margin = $360.00
• Election campaign shirts (3 candidates x 20 tees): 60 tees x $8.12 (margin redirected to campaigns) = $487.20

Annual council revenue: $1,735 to $1,800 conservatively. $2,500 to $3,200 with strong member family participation.

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

What This Replaces

The traditional council apparel fundraiser is a bulk screen-print order from a local print shop or a national bulk vendor. That model requires:

• Collecting sizes from every member ahead of time.
• Paying upfront (often $800 to $2,000) before any member pays the council back.
• Carrying leftover sizes nobody bought.
• The advisor chasing payments from families.

The Pro Shops model removes every one of those steps. Members order directly, pay at checkout, and the council collects margin automatically. See the full comparison at custom ink alternative for student council.

Plan Cost vs Margin Earned

Free plan: $0/month, 3 products. Self-Service VIP: $59/month, 200 products and lower base prices. The VIP plan pays for itself in the first full-council tee order ($203 margin on a 25-member tee drop). After that, every additional dollar of margin is pure council fund.

What Should a Student Council Do With Apparel Revenue?

The council fund can underwrite:

• Spirit-week prizes and decorations.
• End-of-year leadership awards and plaques.
• Council retreat or leadership conference travel.
• Charitable donation in the council's name.
• A class gift to the school or to a graduating cohort.
• Officer farewell gifts at the end of the year.

The advisor and treasurer agree on the spend plan at the first council meeting of the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this really $1,800+ in margin with no upfront cost?

Yes. The VIP plan is a monthly subscription, not an inventory cost. Members pay retail at checkout. The council margin is automatic.

What if not every member orders?

Adjust the projection by the actual member participation rate. Most councils see 80 to 95 percent member participation on the council-wide spirit week tee.

Can we run multiple drops per year?

Yes. Most councils run a fall drop (welcome and officer pieces), a winter drop (sweatshirts and hoodies), and a spring drop (spirit week tees and election campaign shirts).

How do parents and siblings buy council gear?

The store URL is public. Parents and siblings can order the same products with the same logo, often without the officer title on the back.