Fundraising is a crucial aspect for all charity organisations, and having the right promotional items can significantly boost your efforts.
Branded promotional products not only help in raising funds but also in increasing awareness about your cause.
The profit margins on charity branded items can be really good, and charities are often afraid to invest a little more into more premium branded items with their logo, however it's important to remember that higher quality items can be sold at a higher price point and bring in a much bigger return on investment.
Here are the top 10 branded promotional items for charities in 2024 that can make your fundraising efforts more effective and memorable.
Branded T-Shirts
T-Shirts with your logo
T-shirts with your organisation’s logo and message are a classic choice. They serve as a walking billboard, spreading the word about your cause. They're ideal for events like charity runs or community gatherings, and are a great long-term branded item.
The temptation for a charity on a budget is to go for the lowest cost t-shirt option, but we really believe this is a false economy. Your charity needs long-term exposure and repeated wearing, so the t-shirts must be something that the reciepient will want to wear over and over again.
We recommend the Fruit of the Loom Valueweight T-Shirt as a great entry-level shirt that the recipients will actually want to wear, rather than the absolute cheapest t-shirt that will be worn once and then thrown away.
More best-selling T-Shirts:
- Gildan Heavy Cotton Adult T-Shirt: The Gildan Heavy Cotton Adult T-Shirt is a hard wearing 185gsm cotton material but has a substantial softness that appeals to all. The fabric is pre-washed so it starts out fitting well and stays that way.
- Gildan Softstyle Adult Ringspun T-Shirt : This Ringspun pre-shrunk cotton Gildan Softstyle Adult Ringspun T-Shirt is knitted exclusively with deluxe 30s Softstyle™ yarns, resulting in a lightweight, uniform fabric.
View our full range of promotional T-shirts.
Branded Ceramic Mugs
Dishwasher-Safe Full Colour Cambridge Mug
Branded mugs are one of the commonly used items in the office, giving fantastic visibility for your logo and branding.
The White Cambridge Mug, in particular, is a classic design that suits a variety of settings, from offices to outdoor environments and construction sites, making it ideal for a broad audience.
Its large surface area and huge print area is perfect for branding with your logo, with lots of space for slogans or messages.
This combination of utility, aesthetics, and branding potential makes it a valuable tool in any marketing or promotional campaign.
This mug does also come in a variety of colours, so an honourable mention goes out to our Coloured Cambridge Mugs which are ideal for logos on coloured backgrounds.
Other best-selling mugs in 2023:
- Marrow Mug: The Marrow mug is one of the most popular stoneware mug styles, in a modern tapered design, and is 100% dishwasher proof.
- Polo Insulated Travel Mug: These affordable double walled travel mugs with screw on lid and matching coloured sip cover are perfect for targeting recipients who travel a lot, or commute regularly.
- Pascal Ceramic Mug 360ml: Decorative ceramic mug with unglazed bottom. A nice modern finish but has a more limited print area.
View our full range of branded mugs and branded travel mugs.
Branded Water Bottles
Tarn 750ml Sports Bottle
The Tarn 750ml Sports Bottle is a reusable water bottle with your logo that appeal to a broad audience. They’re perfect for health and sports-related fundraisers, and they encourage a sustainable lifestyle.
Whilst the temptation is to go for one of the cheapest branded bottles available, such as the 500ml Finger Grip Bottle which is a fantastic choice on a tight budget, as an item of fundraising merchandise a more premium and sturdy plastic bottle commands a higher price point and profit margin for fundraising, and will get daily use which is ideal for brand exposure.
These bottles are available in various body and lid colours with a fold out sipper and internal straw, and they are suitable for a wide range of promotional events or wellness programs.
This bottle also comes in other variations, incuding the Lucas 750ml Sports Bottle which has a dark charcoal body and coloured trim options, and the Lottie 750ml Sports Bottle which comes in a variety of body colours.
More best-selling branded bottles:
- Sky Aluminium Water Bottle 650ml: This eye-catching bottle is made of aluminium, and easily fits in the side pocket of most backpacks and most car cup holders.
- Oregon Aluminium Bottle with Carabiner 400ml: A great budget-friendly aluminum bottle with carabiner attachment on the lid, with a large rotary branding area to the bottle body.
- Protein Shaker 700ml: Popular with Gyms and Sports Clubs, the Protein Shaker 700ml/24oz features an integrated mesh mixer, rounded inner base for easier cleaning, mix and match lid and clip colours and displays capacity levels in ml/oz.
View our full range of branded bottles, protein shakers and infuser bottles.
Branded Shopper Tote Bags
Natural Cotton Shopper Tote Bags
Our printed natural cotton shopper tote bags are an excellent promotional product due to their utility, eco-friendliness, and wide-ranging appeal.
Tote bags are a practical everyday item, used frequently for shopping or carrying personal items in a public setting, for consistent brand exposure.
Their cotton material makes them an eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags, aligning with the growing trend of environmental consciousness. Additionally, the branding space on these branded tote bags is ideal for branding, allowing for clear and effective display of logos or marketing messages.
Not all bags are created equal, and although these are the cheapest cotton shopper bags that we offer, we don't skimp on quality.
These bags are most cost-effective in natural colour, but are also available as a coloured cotton shopper bag in a variety of colours.
More best-selling branded bags:
- Large Exhibition Jute Bag: The large exhibition jute bag has a natural texture and earthy appeal of jute that adds a rustic charm to your branding.
- Polyester Drawstring Bag: This best-selling promotional polyester drawstring bag is made from 210D recyclable polyester with black artificial leather corners.
- Tucana Non-Woven Shopper Bag: Eco-friendly recyclable non-woven bag for life with long handles.
View our full range of branded tote bags.
Branded Teddy Bears
Teddy Bears with a Logo on the T-Shirt
Plush teddy bears wearing branded t-shirts are an excellent idea for charities for several reasons:
Firstly, they have a universal appeal. Teddy bears are loved by people of all ages and evoke a sense of comfort and nostalgia, making them a heartwarming and appealing item for donors.
When these teddy bears wear t-shirts branded with a charity's logo or message, they serve as adorable ambassadors of the cause, spreading awareness in a gentle yet effective manner. They also have a lasting impact, particularly if the teddy is of a good quality.
Unlike disposable items, a teddy bear is often kept for years, serving as a long-term reminder of the charity and its mission. This emotional connection can foster ongoing support and engagement.
Teddy bears can also be particularly effective in campaigns targeting families or aiming to highlight charitable efforts focused on children's welfare, education, or health. Their cuddly nature and friendly appearance can make the act of giving more personal and heartfelt, resonating with supporters and enhancing the overall impact of fundraising efforts.
Best-selling printed Teddy Bears:
- George Teddy Bear Keyring: The George teddy bear keyring is perfect if your promotional campaign is on a tight budget. Perfect for hanging on keys or bags, he’ll work hard at getting seen by as many people as possible.
- Victoria 13cm Teddy Bear: This beautiful 13cm teddy bear with rose embossed fur is the perfect adorable giveaway for your marketing campaign. Incredible value for money.
- Victoria 19cm Teddy Bear: At the larger end of the range, this bear is made from high-quality soft fur, and provides a tactile experience.
View our full range of branded teddy bears.
Branded Mousemats
Hard Top Mousemat
The Spectrum A5 Soft Touch Notebook stands out due to its versatility and range of branding options.
This notebook is printed to the front cover in full colour print as standard, giving a vibrant end result, and you effectively have the whole front cover to print onto. Despite this, it is one of the lowest cost notebook options available with a premium-feel soft touch hard cover.
You can also choose to deboss your design into the cover, or we can stamp your logo in gold or silver foil.
This affordable branded notebook also comes in a variety of colours.
With a low minimum order of just 50 units and a long lifespan, this is a great value promotional item.
More best-selling printed desk items:
- Hard Top Coaster: A great mid-range A5 soft-touch lined notebook with bookmark, document pocket at the back, pen loop and an elastic closure band.
- Recycled Square Coaster : Ideal for multi-coloured logos, this A5 white notebook has a soft touch finish, a coloured bookmark, document pocket at the back, elastic pen loop and elastic closure band.
- Bamboo Phone Stand : Bamboo 2-part phone stand. It includes 2 parts, you can assemble it vertically to hold your phone. Low cost and easy to mail out.
View our full range of branded desk items.
Branded Individually Wrapped Sweets
Custom Printed Mint Imperials
Branded individually wrapped mint imperials offer a sweet and effective promotional strategy for charities. These small treats pack a big punch in terms of visibility and engagement. The individual wrapping provides an excellent opportunity for charities to print their logo, message, or call-to-action, turning each mint into a mini advertising space.
This form of branding is subtle yet impactful, as recipients are likely to remember the gesture of receiving a complimentary sweet treat. Mints are universally appealing and can be distributed easily at a wide range of events, from formal fundraisers to casual meet-and-greets, increasing the charity's reach and visibility.
The individual packaging ensures hygiene and convenience, making them a practical choice for distribution in both indoor and outdoor settings. The refreshing nature of mint imperials can leave a lasting impression, metaphorically 'refreshing' the charity's image in the minds of potential supporters.
This cost-effective promotional item is not only delightful but also serves as a light-hearted yet powerful tool for keeping the charity's name and mission on people's lips, literally and figuratively.
More best-selling printed sweets:
- Individually Wrapped Fruit Sweets: Personalised with your logo and message in a high-quality printed single wrapper.
- Eco Paper Flow Bag of Skittles: Features branding to the whole outer packet for a really custom end result.
- Branded Love Hearts: Feature your logo on these Love Heart rolls to infuse your branding with a touch of romance. Low cost and very popular.
View our full range of branded food and drink.
Branded Trolley Coin Keyrings
Recycled Pop Coin Trolley Keyring
The Recycled Trolley Coin Keyring is an effective promotional item, particularly for its practicality and environmental friendliness. Made in the UK from 100% recycled plastic, it's a sustainable choice that resonates with eco-conscious consumers.
The keyring features a 12-sided £1 trolley coin, ideal for supermarket trolleys, and includes a lobster clip fitting. With a branding area to one or both sides of the coin, it's a handy low-cost tool for increasing brand visibility in an everyday situation.
This promotional item is particularly popular with retail brands, but is suitable for any business looking for long-term brand exposure.
More best-selling printed keyrings:
- Ralli Bottle Opener Keyring: This metal keyring is durable and functions as a bottle and can opener with a split ring attachment.
- Recycled Compact Keyring : A simple compact keyring which is a nice alternative to the more standard acrylic keyring with paper insert. Made in the UK from 100% recycled plastic.
- Bamboo Keyring : This Bamboo keyring is engraved in the UK allowing for a fast lead time. Bamboo is both sustainable and biodegradable making it a great daily accessory that doesn’t cost the Earth.
View our full range of branded keyrings.
Branded Button Badges
Recycled 25mm Circular Badge
Branded button badges are an excellent promotional tool for charities due to their visibility, versatility, and affordability.
These small but impactful items serve as a wearable endorsement of the charity's cause, allowing supporters to visibly display their allegiance and spread awareness wherever they go. The badges can be easily pinned to clothing, bags, or other accessories, making them a walking advertisement for the charity. This not only increases the visibility of the charity's message but also encourages a sense of community and solidarity among supporters.
Our branded badges are highly customizable, offering charities the flexibility to incorporate their logos, campaign slogans, or specific messages in an eye-catching design. Additionally, their low cost makes them an economical choice for mass distribution, ensuring that even small-scale charities can afford to use them in their fundraising and awareness campaigns.
The simplicity and nostalgia associated with button badges also appeal to a wide demographic, making them an effective tool for engaging a diverse supporter base. Whether handed out at events, sold as fundraising items, or included in welcome packs for new donors, branded button badges are a simple yet powerful way for charities to enhance their visibility and connect with their community.
Our best-selling printed badges:
- Recycled 37mm Square Badge: Square shape button badge made in the UK from 100% recycled plastic, supplied with safety pin fitting and digitally printed.
- Recycled Pop Badge: This 45mm round, pinless, 2-part badge easily clips onto t-shirts, lanyards etc. and is ideal for kids and gift shops, as it doesn’t damage clothing! Made in the UK from recycled plastic and digitally printed in full colour as standard.
- Bamboo Badges : These eco-friendly Bamboo Badges are manufactured here in the UK and made from FSC approved material. Branded with laser engraving or full colour print, and can be laser cut to a specific shape!
View our full range of branded badges.
Branded Note Pads
A6 Notepads
The great thing about branded notepads is that they are versatile and can be used in a variety of settings, from professional environments like offices and meetings to personal spaces like homes and schools, broadening the reach of your charities' message. This widespread use maximises the visibility of the charity across diverse audience groups.
Available in a range of sizes from small A7 notepads up to large A3 Desk pads, they offer plenty of space for creative branding, allowing charities to include their logos, contact information, and mission statements in an unobtrusive yet clear manner.
They are also cost-effective, making them a viable option for mass distribution at events, campaigns, or as part of welcome kits for new donors or volunteers. The tangible nature of notepads, as opposed to digital alternatives, provides a physical reminder of the charity's presence and cause.
Our paper notepads can be produced with eco-friendly materials and FSC Paper, aligning with the values of environmentally conscious donors and enhancing the charity's image as a responsible and ethical organisation.
Best-selling printed notepads:
- 3 x 3 Sticky Note Pads (Post-It Style) : Containing 50 sheets of sticky note paper from a sustainable source, gummed along the top edge. Made in the UK in our Carbon Zero factory.
- A5 Note Pads: Contains 50 sheets of white paper from a sustainable source, glued securely to a board back at head. Made in the UK in our Carbon Zero factory.
- Keyboard Desk Pad: Positioned conveniently below your keyboard, this Keyboard Desk Pad offers a useful and creative canvas for jotting down notes, to-do lists, and reminders right at your fingertips.
View our full range of branded paper products.
Choosing the right promotional items for your fundraising can have a significant impact on your success.
These top 10 items are not just effective in raising funds but also in building long-lasting relationships with your supporters.
Remember, the key is to choose items that resonate with your target audience and align with your organisation's values and message, and don't forget about the profit potential!