Plan a Carwash Fundraiser

Plan a Carwash

A carwash serves two purposes for the Jakara Movement:  first and foremost is that it is a community activity that builds networking and cohesion.  It brings people of the community of all ages together to do something worthwhile; the second purpose is to raise some well-needed funds for the Jakara Movement.

In the past, we have had carwashes in Fresno, Turlock, and the Bay Area.  In commercial lots, gas stations, and even Gurdwara parking lots, we have done it all.  These groups have some tips that they will share, but this year we seek to EXPAND this initiative and project.  We need your support!

WHO YOU NEED:

A group of dedicated volunteers.  Ask your friends, family, let us help build you a network.  We have volunteers in most California communities.  This is often a great first time function.  You need at least 4-6 coordinators to put on a very successful carwash.  Then on top of that more volunteers.  Facebook, etc. are great ways to recruit.

PICK A DATE/TIME:

You should pick a date six weeks or more in advance if at all possible.  Check the Calendar Section of your local newspaper. Are there any major community events occurring on the same day as your planned car wash fundraiser? A conflict of interest may cause a decrease in the same day attendance. A decrease in cars could cause as much as twenty to thirty percent in lost revenue. If, on the other hand, you coordinate a time, date and location that corresponds to the other event, let’s say down the street a half a mile or less, you could add fifty percent more cars. You might try to put your car wash fundraiser across the street in a parking lot, gas station, etc. Better yet, ask the other group if you can have your fundraiser in their parking lot. Offer them ten percent of the proceeds if their event is also a fundraiser. How can they say no? This could almost double the number of cars washed.

RAIN DATES:

What about rain? It happens.  Have a date maybe the following week or two to three weeks later ready to go just in case.

PRE-SALE TICKETS:

These are KEY.  Reasons are easy enough:

• You know about how many people will come to your car wash ahead of time
• 66% of the ticket buyers are supporting the cause and will not actually show up
• If it rains you’re washed up but not washed out
• You will also have use of the money in advance even in the event of rain. Your rain date might be three weeks later yet you have most of the money in your coffers now.

The Jakara Movement has made these before.  We will make them and get them to you!

ORGANIZING:

Bringing the troops together isn’t easy. First they need to be motivated. Chances are you already have synergy in your group. You need to harvest this synergy to make an effective team. There are a number of assignments to do to have a successful fundraiser. If this is a sports team or other well-organized group, you will already have a support structure which will help tremendously. You will first need to set up a car wash fundraiser committee. Here are the assignments:

• Project Lead – Pitch the idea to a group and get them to approve it. Find volunteers. Make a time line starting six weeks before and up to one week after the event. Look over the descriptions of other assignments. Make sure you feel confident that each volunteer is capable and willing to do his or her assignments. Regularly check to make sure assignments are being met. Check often. Team follow up is essential. Also, get or make the tickets.
• Publicity Coordinator – Call all local publications that are applicable and submit information to the Community Calendar sections. Call the radio stations. Make sure they put the event on the Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) schedule. Call local reporters and let them know of your event. Make signs. Make wrapped coffee cans for extra donations. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper two weeks before the event.
• Location and Site Locator – Find a visible high traffic location. Contact property owners. Get insurance for the event if property owners desire such. Discuss traffic flow with the property owner. One week before the event write a confirmation and thank you letter.
• Supplies Needed Person – In our effort to “Go Green” and be environmentally conscious.  We are advocating the Water-Free carwash.  We can order the materials and get them out to you.
• Ticket Sales Captain – Give out tickets to your group’s sales force. Keep a log of tickets given out and money collected. Schedule meetings two times per week with your sales staff. Make sure your log matches with the number of tickets and amount of money they collected.
• Shift Scheduler – Make sure you have enough volunteers to come and wash the cars the day of the event. Have exact names and times and make sure the volunteers know when they are working. Have phone numbers for all your volunteers. Call and confirm with each person the week of the event.
• Post-Car Wash Follow-Up Person – Make certificates for the other assigned jobs on the committee. Make a certificate for the gas station owner or the property owner. Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper publicly thanking everyone for their support. Make sure the car wash site is spotless when the car wash fundraiser is done. We have a standard thank you letter from the Jakara Movement.  We will send this to you.
• Environmental Coordinator – Make sure no car wash water goes into storm drains, ditches or waterways. Get vacuums to remove excess water, block off storms drains, etc.  With our “Go Green” approach most of this should not be a problem.  However, be careful!

HOURS OF FUNDRAISER:

• We recommend that you keep the hours of the fundraiser to a minimum. Pick a Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. If you have twenty or more volunteers who will be washing cars, split them into a morning shift and an afternoon shift, ten in each shift. It might be better to have twelve people in the morning and eight in the afternoon. Usually mornings have higher traffic count because people are on their way to somewhere. They will usually be on their way back after 3:00 pm. Don’t start your car wash fundraiser before 8:00 am.

FINALLY:

Take pride in your work.  Be humble in your demeanor.  Thank your volunteer team.  They are what make it work.  We are doing this together for the community.  There are no “bosses”, we are all in this together.

Together, we are the movement.