Vendor & Manufacturing Partnership Expectations 2026–2027 Season

Contact Email: inquiries@lastbisonstanding.com

CATALOGS & SAMPLES:

LAST BISON STANDING

3321 GEORGIA AVENUE NW

UNIT 3361

WASHINGTON, DC 20010

Before entering into new vendor and manufacturing partnerships for the 2026–2027 season, we believe it is important to provide insight into who we are, how we operate, and what we expect from our partners.

Who We Are

Last Bison Standing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 

While many people know us through our apparel collections, apparel fundraising is only one component of our overall mission.

Revenue generated through apparel sales helps support scholarships, emergency assistance, educational initiatives, and other programs that directly benefit the communities we serve.

Unlike traditional retailers, our primary purpose is mission impact. Apparel serves as a fundraising vehicle that helps us sustain and expand that impact.

How We Sell Apparel

We are not a brick-and-mortar retailer.

While we occasionally vend at special events, the majority of our apparel sales are conducted through e-commerce platforms and direct outreach to our supporters.

Our supporter base includes:

Alumni

Undergraduate students

Educators

Parents and families

Donors and supporters

In addition to public collections, we periodically create special products and limited-edition releases exclusively for friends, family members, donors, sponsors, and organizational partners.

As a result, our production needs may differ significantly from those of traditional collegiate retailers.

Our Expectations of Vendors and Manufacturers

Over the years, our organization has experienced reputational challenges resulting from production delays, fulfillment issues, and delivery timelines that were beyond our direct control.

Because of this, transparency and accountability are essential components of every vendor partnership.

Production & Delivery

Accurate production timelines and realistic in-hand delivery dates are non-negotiable.

We would rather receive a realistic timeline that can be met than one that cannot.

Clear communication regarding delays, material shortages, production challenges, or shipping disruptions is expected throughout the manufacturing process.

Intellectual Property & Brand Protection

Last Bison Standing is an independent nonprofit organization and is not a Howard University entity.

We expect our concepts, design variations and any proprietary apparel concepts to remain confidential and not be reproduced, shared, or sold to third parties without our written authorization.

Billing & Financial Expectations

We expect all financial terms to be clearly communicated prior to production.

This includes:

Deposit requirements

Net payment terms

Production minimums

Shipping costs

Rush fees, if applicable

Invoices should properly reflect our tax-exempt status when applicable.

We also expect all required licensing royalties to be reported and paid accurately and in a timely manner.

Understanding Our Ordering Process

We understand many organizations operate on predictable ordering schedules and recurring purchasing cycles.

That is not how our organization functions.

As a mission-driven nonprofit, scholarship assistance, emergency aid, and direct support for students will always take precedence over apparel fundraising activities when budget decisions are made.

The funds allocated toward apparel production may fluctuate based on the immediate needs of our recipients and ongoing program commitments.

For this reason, our ordering patterns may not always follow traditional retail forecasting models.

We value vendor partners who understand that our mission comes first and who are willing to work alongside us as we balance fundraising operations with serving the students who depend on our programs.

Our goal is not simply to find new vendors. Our goal is to build long-term partnerships with manufacturers that understand our mission, respect our standards, and are committed to growing alongside us.