Running a non-profit shop

Running your own non-profit merch shop with Spreadshop is a simple and impactful way to raise awareness and rally support for your cause/organization. Whether you're a charitable organization, a school club or a grassroots movement, Spreadshop gives you the tools to run a shop that aligns with your mission.

This guide explains how to set up your shop so it remains compliant with non-profit requirements while still providing high-quality products to your donor base and community.

To run your Spreadshop as a non-profit, you’ll need to ensure your shop is set to zero profit. This means setting your product margins so that the final retail price equals the base price.

With the non-profit option, one click sets your margin to zero and you forgo profits in your Shop (Shop Settings > Prices & Promos > Shop pricing). Your retail price is thus the same as the base price. You will not receive a performance bonus, nor will you be liable to share the costs of discount campaigns. You can find more information on the taxation of your shop income here.

Doing this ensures you aren’t collecting any revenue, which may be necessary for tax or regulatory purposes depending on your organization’s status. It’s also worth noting that you won’t receive performance bonuses, and your shop won’t be charged for participating in any discount campaigns. This setup is ideal for organizations focused solely on outreach or awareness.

Pro Tip: While you won’t earn money through sales, you can still use your non-profit shop as a tool for visibility. Encourage supporters to wear your merch at events, in photos on social media or as part of campaigns. This builds community around your mission and spreads your message organically. You can also include QR codes or URLs in your designs to direct people to donation pages or volunteer signups.