From Calgary to Canada: How a Clothing Company Is Raising $1 Million for Good

Local Laundry started with one simple idea: celebrate Canada and the communities that make it great. We didn't know exactly what that would look like. We just knew that clothing could mean something more than what you put on in the morning.

Over the years, we figured out a model that actually works. Not just for us, for the organizations we partner with. Today, with nearly $400,000 raised since we started and a goal of $1 million by 2030, we want to talk about one of the ways we get there: our fundraising pre-sale program.

The Fundraising Pre-Sale Model

Here's the honest truth about most merchandise programs: they're a gamble. You estimate how many units to order, commit to a number, pay upfront, and hope people actually buy. Sometimes they do. Sometimes you're left with a pile of shirts in a back room that no one wanted.

We do it differently.

Every fundraising collaborations we do runs on a pre-sale model. We design a limited edition piece together, open it up to your community for a set window of time, usually a few weeks, and only produce exactly what gets ordered. No guessing. No excess inventory. No risk.

For the organization, it's a no-brainer. You get a beautifully designed, branded piece that your community actually wants. You raise money for your cause with zero upfront cost and zero inventory headache. For the people buying, it means something, they're not just getting a shirt, they're choosing to show up for something they believe in.

It sounds simple because it is. The results speak for themselves.

This Year's Fundraising Pre-Sales

In 2026 alone, our fundraising pre-sale program has raised over $14,000 across seven organizations, and the year isn't over yet.

Every campaign is different. Every organization brings something unique. They all share one thing though: a community that shows up when given the chance.

The Edmonton Public Library raised $7,430, the largest single pre-sale fundraiser we've done this year. Libraries are one of the most underappreciated community institutions we have, and watching Canadians show up for theirs was something special.

GoodLife Kids Foundation raised $1,260 for programs that get kids moving and active. Alberta Wilderness Association raised $855 for the wild spaces that make this province worth celebrating. Ski Jumping Canada raised $1,020 for one of the most uniquely Canadian winter sports there is. The Calgary Food Bank raised $1,430, because food insecurity is real and close to home. Scouts Canada raised $1,230 helping young people connect with the outdoors and learn what it means to give back.

Right now, our pre-sale with Trellis Society is live until May 24th. Trellis supports children, youth and families across Calgary through housing, mental health services, and community programs, $10 from every shirt goes directly to their work.

Shop the Trellis T-Shirt Here

Why a T-Shirt? Why Not Just Donate Directly?

People ask us sometimes why clothing. Why not just send a cheque?

A shirt does something a donation can't. It makes your support visible. It starts conversations. It builds identity around a cause. When someone wears an Alberta Wilderness Association tee or a Food Bank hoodie, they're not just wearing clothes, they're saying something about who they are and what they care about.

For the organizations, it gives their community something tangible to rally around. A reason to engage. A moment to belong.

This is just one of the ways we give back. We also raise money through our Giving Garments™ program and through silent auctions at community events, because every dollar counts and every format matters. We want to use what we do to create real impact in as many ways as we can. 

The $1 Million Mission

We're not being quiet about this. We want to donate $1 million to Canadian causes by 2030. We started this journey years ago and we're nearly halfway there, close to $400,000 raised across all our giving programs combined. The pre-sale fundraising program is one of the engines driving that number forward.

The only way we get there is by doing more of this, more collaborations, more pre-sales, more organizations willing to bet on their own communities.

If you're part of an organization, a non-profit, a sports club, a school, or any community group that wants to do something like this, we'd genuinely love to talk.

Inquire here: www.locallaundry-custom.ca

Let's build something that matters.