22 Jan 5 Reasons Why Drop Shipping Is The Best Fundraising Idea Ever

Drop Shipping Could Be The Best Fundraising Idea Ever!

Every charity has a holy grail – an effortless, consistent form of fundraising that doesn’t need lots of volunteer input – right?

All charities are basically a business, with the ‘profits’ being used to fund the core cause.  It shouldn’t be funding admin costs, piles of stock or functions beyond the key remit.

Which is why drop shipping, beloved by Instagrammers and Tik Tokers, is a model that charities cannot afford to overlook.

Does your charity have a large support base in the form of:

• an email or paper mailing list?
• large social media following?
• a cohesive and passionate culture?

If so, you need to read this!  Dropshipping may be your best fundraising idea for 2025.

Is there a physical product that would appeal to your supporters?

1. The best way to find this out is to speak to your people!  Maybe they would be proud to wear a t-shirt or a cap with a logo and a slogan. Maybe they would prefer a keyring or something related to the charity.  Narrow this down to a number of core products that are mentioned.
2. You might do this via a poll on socials, or just by a casual chat at a fundraising event.  If one item keeps popping up, then add it to the list. Aim to gather ten or so ideas.
3. A good example of this is the National Trust.  They started by offering a small number of nature-themed products, which has expanded outside of physical shops into a major online retailer.

Which of these products will support the culture of your organisation?

1. Successful dropship has to fit in with your supporters and your culture.  You need to find a synchronicity.
2. This isn’t just reflected in the physical product – consider the whole process.  If you are an anti-slavery organisation, be sure your offerings are not made from an unchecked supply chain, for example.
3. Our client, House of Opportunity, were faced with exactly this conundrum when offering a range of clothing.  We were able to check and verify the manufacturing supply chain, to ensure that all involved were treated fairly, ethically and paid at least the local living wage.

So how do you get these products to your supporters?

1. Easy – back to those first criteria.  Through your social media channels, or email marketing.  Make your supporters aware that this is a new ongoing fundraising initiative. Encourage them to purchase the items as gifts. To post pictures on their own socials, and to share with friends.
2. You will find that with very little input from your staff/volunteers, the word will spread.
3. Take Sizu – a mental well-being brand set up Lauren Steadman MBE.  Working together, her cleverly designed and curated range has raised over £30k for mental health charities, almost exclusively using Instagram influencers she knows from her successful sporting career.

How is this going to make money for us?

1. Simple.  The same way as professional dropshipping companies do – and the biggest example of this is Amazon.  They don’t actually MAKE anything. They just sell – lots!
2. Your profit is the difference between the cost of purchasing and shipping the items, and the cost of sale.  For example, you might buy a bracelet for £10 and sell it for £25.  The difference is earnings into your charity.
3. Sammy from Beauty In The Brain is one smart lady. She raises money for BrainsTrust by sourcing products she would like to purchase herself.  But she doesn’t have boxes sitting around her house.  Not at all.  Each time an order comes in, the different suppliers are notified and they do the heavy lifting.

But we don’t have space nor the staff to do this!

1. Every charity has these same challenges.  Do you have time to organise entries into a marathon?  Or a coffee morning?  Or any of the wonderful events you get involved in?  Or course not! But they still happen.  This is a one-off set up, working with a trusted supplier such as ourselves (many others available!).
2. You don’t need a warehouse. This is exactly the point of dropshipping.  We manufacture and ship a number of items as they are ordered.  Or if you decide to offer items we cannot manufacture, then we are happy to accept deliveries and we can ship as the orders come in.  You do not need storage of your own.
3. Our customer Pet Plan Charitable Trust set up a Purple Poppy Appeal last year.  In the form of a lapel pin (for owners) or tag (for dog collars), this design has proved popular with their readership and could easily be replicated in a different design next Poppy day.I

So this could really be the Best Fundraising Idea ever for your charity.  Get in touch with us to find out more.