1. Pick a small, wearable lineup

Start with two to four items people already wear: a tee, a hoodie and a hat cover most teams. A short lineup is easier to promote and easier for a family to choose from. Add more only if supporters ask.

2. Design something people want to wear

Use your team name, colours and mascot, and keep the artwork bold enough to read from across a gym or field. You can generate designs with Swag31's AI design studio or upload art from a parent or local designer. Ask two or three players which version they would actually wear before you commit.

3. Set prices that leave a margin

The team sets every price. Each sale covers the print cost, the shipping the buyer paid, card processing and Swag31's platform fee, and the team keeps the rest, so a higher price means a larger share for the team. Check the pricing breakdown before you decide, and compare against what similar gear costs in stores.

4. Choose dates and a goal

A fundraiser with an end date gets bought sooner than one that stays open forever. Pick a window that includes your team's busiest weeks, such as the lead-up to a season opener, a tournament or senior night, and set the start and end dates on the store. A written goal gives families something to rally around.

5. Get every athlete sharing

Each athlete can claim a player page with a personal link. Sales through that link count toward that athlete, which makes it easy to see who has been sharing. Ask players to send their link to relatives, neighbours and family friends rather than only posting publicly, since a personal message from the athlete tends to get a faster answer. Because many athletes are minors, get a parent or guardian's okay before a player claims a page.

6. Promote it on a rhythm

• Launch day: send the team store link to every family, with the end date.
• Mid-campaign: post a reminder with photos of the gear and a note on who has been sharing.
• Final days: announce the deadline and remind families that gear is printed to order, so late orders can't be added after the store closes.

7. Close out and say thanks

When the campaign ends, check the dashboard, thank supporters and share what the money is going toward. Orders ship directly to buyers, so there is nothing to sort or hand out. The team's share is paid to its Stripe account.

Where to go next

See how Swag31 works, the FAQ, or more team fundraiser ideas.

Plan it around your season

The Playbook has plans for funding a club season and covering tournament weekends.