Fundraising is critical for your charity and your mission. It’s also strategic – meaning that your fundraising activities are not one-size-fits-all and they’re not (or rather they shouldn’t be) static and unchanged over time. To maximise your fundraising, your charity should take stock of changing trends and preferences amongst your supporters and the larger community. This includes the merchandise you design and incorporate as part of your fundraising campaigns.
In this post, we highlight our top-ten fundraising merchandise trends for the year ahead. Take note and stay ahead of the trends to connect with your audience, engage your donors, and boost your charitable contributions in 2025!
Trend #1: Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Merchandise
Recent reporting suggests that global support for environmental activism has increased tenfold. According to the Office for National Statistics, 75% of people have made significant lifestyle changes to help tackle climate change, and this includes the products people purchase and use. Increasingly, donors are demanding environmentally friendly products. At Rocket Charities, we offer eco-friendly alternatives to all of our most popular products, from organic cotton tote bags and compostable cups to recycled event apparel for your next charitable challenge. For more eco-friendly trends in the year ahead, please see this previous article on sustainable giving.
Trend #2: Interactive and Experience-Driven Merchandise
Another trend for the year ahead is to create a merchandise experience that your supporters will remember—and respond to. Aim for interactive merchandise, like a scratch-off poster that reveals donation milestones, a puzzle tied to a campaign theme, or a DIY kit that will appeal to your unique audience, such as a build-your-own birdhouse kit or a seasonal make-your-own mocktail kit. Be sure to include your charity message, logo, or branding on your interactive merchandise to drive engagement and make a clear connection to your mission. If your product can be reused by multiple people, encourage your supporters to gift it to their friends or family when they’re through to spread further awareness of your mission.
Trend #3: Tech-Integrated Merchandise
Most people today spend at least some time online, whether it be for work, entertainment, news, sports, gaming, or corresponding with friends and family. This year, meet your supporters where they are by creating tech-integrated fundraising merchandise. This could be as simple as including a QR code on your merchandise that links to more information about your charity and fundraising campaign. Or you could opt for merchandise with a modern twist and design something like a smart water bottle or a branded bamboo wireless charger.
Trend #4: Limited Edition or Collectible Items
A fun aspect of the 2024 Olympic Games was the “pin-demonium” that resulted in which pin badge collectors from around the world gathered in Paris to collect and trade badges with fellow enthusiasts. Be it pin badges, magnets, souvenir mugs, or t-shirts, people love to find, collect, trade, and sell special items. Consider creating your own limited edition or collectible merchandise to create a sense of urgency and drive demand among your supporters. This could be a specially numbered line of items, or a themed collectible that is tied to a specific campaign and only available for a limited time. A good example of this is the coveted and collectable badges from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which feature birds, animals, insects, and flowers.
Trend #5: Subscription-Based Merchandise Programmes
Every charity knows that recurring donations and purchases are key to long-term, sustainable fundraising. With this in mind, tap into the trend of a subscription-based merchandise programme. Create a monthly or quarterly curated box of goodies. This could be tied to a season or time of year, like an insulated travel mug during cold-weather months and a branded barbeque set for the summer months. When a supporter “subscribes” to support your charity, they would receive these specially curated boxes throughout the year. Your program could also be tied to key points in your fundraising campaign—for example, all participants in a campaign receive a special, limited edition badge when they’ve collectively achieved 50% of the goal. You’ll not only usher in critical recurring donations, but you’ll also keep your supporters engaged year-round.
Trend #6: Wearable Merchandise with a Cause
Another top trend for the year ahead is apparel that carries a strong message or design. T-shirts are a popular choice, but you might also think about more seasonal clothing or accessories, like beanies, wristbands, and raincoats. For inspiration, check out this fundraising article with some ideas for empowering apparel messages in support of Dry January; or check out these ideas for merchandise that sparks conversations around mental health. With the right message or design, your wearable merchandise will act as a walking, talking billboard for your cause or campaign.
Trend #7: Locally Sourced and Artisanal Products
This year, tap into the merchandise trend of locally sourced and artisanal products. Seek local partners and collaborators who can amplify the reach and impact of your merchandise with eye-catching designs. For example, The Donkey Sanctuary collaborated with a local textile artist, Poppy Teffrey, to release an incredible line of whimsical, branded merchandise. Take a moment to identify your potential partners, such as a neighbourhood business or artist, a social media influencer, or a local athlete. Keep in mind that the best partnerships are mutually beneficial! Once you have an artist or design in mind, you can apply it to a range of products, including clothing, jewelry, or regional-specific crafts that help you tell a story.
Trend #8: Digital Merchandise for Virtual Fundraising
Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are having a moment, and some people are paying a lot of money for these limited, intangible artworks. Charities have taken note and are exploring ways to benefit from NFTs and other digital assets. You could partner with a local artist (see trend #7 above) to create artwork for your charity that you then auction off. You could also create special digital versions of your existing artwork or offer custom branded certificates of donation when people give a certain amount, or sign up for recurring donations. These digital certificates could be proudly displayed by supportive individuals, businesses, or influencers to demonstrate their values and their commitment to doing good.
Trend #9: Functional and Everyday Use Items
This next trend is really more of a long-term reality: Supporters appreciate practical merchandise that makes their life easier. This year, expand your merchandise line to include several functional, everyday items. Popular choices include reusable shoppers, notebooks and journals, and water bottles or other drinkware. When your charity message is emblazoned on these highly visible products, it helps spread awareness every time your supporters wear or use your item. Be sure to offer functional products at various price points, to ensure that all your supporters can find something that suits their preferences—and their pocketbooks.
Trend #10: Youth-Focused and Trendy Merchandise
The last trend to highlight is merchandise that targets and appeals to younger supporters. Many organisations overlook this demographic, opting to appeal to older, seemingly more financially stable supporters. However, young people are passionate, and they will support the causes they care about. In fact, research suggests that young people (between 18 and 24) are more likely to give to charity than any other age group! On top of this, young people can also elevate your fundraising campaigns by sharing their support with peers through social media and digital platforms. Consider fundraising merchandise that appeals to this demographic, such as stickers, enamel pins, and pop-culture themed items. Offer products in a range of price points and be sure to offer your products through digital platforms.
We hope that 2025 is the strongest year yet for your charity. The top ten merchandise trends we shared here can help orient your charity toward maximum fundraising in the year ahead. We encourage you to explore and implement these trends, and to do so in a way that aligns with your unique audience and mission. We also invite you to partner with Rocket Charities to create custom, on-trend merchandise that will help you exceed your goals this year. Please get in touch with us anytime to get started!