Fund Rasier Car Wash, Ideas?

**Beemerboy** · 03-02-2012, 11:24 AM

My son is playing on the HS tennis team this year. With budget cuts and all the transportation of the players, sort of falls back on the parents. I suggested having a car wash to raise money so they could rent a van, or compensate the parents that have large SUV`s that could transport the players.

I understand how to set it up, we have an area that many car washes are conducted by the HS. I will supply the soap ( good time for me to use the foam gun I have) I will not be using my MF towels, so we will be using terry towels.

I told the coach and team Mom (she hates that name) that we could advertize an experienced detailer supervising, and I would offer out onsite wash / wax specials for additional cost to help raise the dollar value or if they book full details with me I will donate the money back. I`m on the fence post with this one. Lots of work and who knows what I would get. The plus side is I could expand my customer base.

Any tips, trick, angles that can be shed on the subject?

Thanks.

**Bunky** · 03-02-2012, 11:42 AM

I saw one fundraiser done at an Advance Auto Parts store where they used a pressure washer (electric jobs) to pre-wash then did a normal wash. Now, I thought that was a serious charity car wash. The pressure washer was operated by an adult.

**Beemerboy** · 03-02-2012, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by Bunky

I saw one fundraiser done at an Advance Auto Parts store where they used a pressure washer (electric jobs) to pre-wash then did a normal wash. Now, I thought that was a serious charity car wash. The pressure washer was operated by an adult.

Yes pressure washer in the hands of a teenager at a car wash spells liability to me

**C. Charles Hahn** · 03-02-2012, 01:57 PM

You could probably even have the kids helping out with the onsite wash/wax special if you use something like OCW. A little goes a long way, easy as cake to apply and wipe off.

Just make sure they know not to drop towels on the ground, and use Costco/Sam`s club MFs that are no big deal to throw away if they do trash one.

**Nth Degree** · 03-02-2012, 02:08 PM

The key will be training the kids quickly so they understand what safety precautions need to be taken. Saying it will be supervised by a professional detailer is a good idea, but make sure it doesn`t open you up to liability. Great advertising possibility. I have thought about doing something similar and offering 15%-25% back to the program for details sold by them. Sell it as a double win... they get a clean car and they get to donate a significant amount to a good cause.

**Beemerboy** · 03-02-2012, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by C. Charles Hahn

You could probably even have the kids helping out with the onsite wash/wax special if you use something like OCW. A little goes a long way, easy as cake to apply and wipe off.

Just make sure they know not to drop towels on the ground, and use Costco/Sam`s club MFs that are no big deal to throw away if they do trash one.

I`ll have a look at them for costs the key in this is holding down the operating costs. Thanks for the suggestion, I have a PB product that is a quick wipe on wipe off wax that really dose a nice job I would use

Originally Posted by Nth Degree

The key will be training the kids quickly so they understand what safety precautions need to be taken. Saying it will be supervised by a professional detailer is a good idea, but make sure it doesn`t open you up to liability. Great advertising possibility. I have thought about doing something similar and offering 15%-25% back to the program for details sold by them. Sell it as a double win... they get a clean car and they get to donate a significant amount to a good cause.

There would be a starter training car to show them, how we would do it. I would also have other parents helping with supervision

**Stokdgs** · 03-05-2012, 01:21 PM

Dave ,

We support the local High School Basketball Team every year and have had great, great, success with a carefully set up Garage Sale, tied in conjunction with our Annual Neighborhood Garage Sale..

Over the years, we have learned that only selling better, higher end things will yield more $$ at the day`s end than tons of junk, i.e., old clothes, broken items, old junky stuff, etc..

I have a semi circular driveway tied into a long driveway, so we set up multiple EZ-UP Canopies, have as much of the items to be sold, delivered to my garage the nights before the event, so that they can be sorted, tagged with prices, etc., attach signs to the top edges of the canopies advertising who this sale is for, start early and plan for about 12 hours.

We have also incorporated selling hot dogs, chips, bottled water, cookies, etc., from Costco, and pretty much sell out all the food around the noon time of the sale.

It is strictly all volunteers working this sometimes, in shifts, and most of the team are Parents of the kids that are on the Basketball Teams.

It has been generally wall-to-wall people every year and we have sold some really nice things - new treadmills, newer beds (no mattresses unless new in plastic wrapping), furniture, books, newer toys, bikes, very few clothing unless its really new, or barely used, no piles of junky shoes, only new or barely used, new or barely used sports equipment, etc...

This past year, we did this again, and after the day was done, we had hardly anything left to donate to the Goodwill, and the boys came away with $1,700..

I hope this idea may give you and your group ideas on what is best..

We thought about car washes, but the laws up here against polluting are pretty darn strict, and when you think about it, unless you have someone like a Cameron Diaz (Bad Teacher)

helping out, well, what more can I say?

Just kididng, I hope you guys do well with your project !!

Dan F

**DeuceRon** · 05-02-2012, 08:42 PM

The biggest thing that keeps me from going to one of those is their drying methods. I always see a bunch of wet towels spread out on the grass or on benches drying. That spells scratches to me and I stay away.

Get some sham wow`s or something that doesn`t have to be dry to work. Just a thought.. Good luck and have fun!

**Bunky** · 05-03-2012, 06:06 AM

If you care about the charity and your car, just donate the money.

**DeuceRon** · 05-04-2012, 07:14 AM

It`s not a charity, it`s a fundraiser, plus that`s not the point. The event would be useless if everyone just gave money. These kids love events like this and the more busy they are, the more the money is appreciated. Not to mention, it gets them away from their phones and playstations to enjoy some social activity.

The OP simply asked for suggestions on how to make a `car wash` a better event.

**AndrewBigA** · 05-04-2012, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by Bunky

If you care about the charity and your car, just donate the money.

sounds like a good idea but just alot of time & effort to make it work.
i would see how much $ you need to raise & see if you can get $50 bucks from each parent. that could be a good starting point in your efforts to raise $. you could always use your name & offer a discount to the parents who donate towards the team. everyone should be down to help eachother out. i know if i was in that situation i would rather dip a little into my pocket & take it from there, see how things go. good luck!

**Bunky** · 05-04-2012, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by DeuceRon

It`s not a charity, it`s a fundraiser, plus that`s not the point. The event would be useless if everyone just gave money. These kids love events like this and the more busy they are, the more the money is appreciated. Not to mention, it gets them away from their phones and playstations to enjoy some social activity.

The OP simply asked for suggestions on how to make a `car wash` a better event.

I understand but if someone cares about their car they should let them touch it. A better solution would be find some other activity that raises money, keeps them busy, but not having to mess with cars.

The good news is that most people do not care (probably safer than a swirl em place since that will scratch the car) so they can still accomplish.

Try googling since there are various items like selling tickets, doing extra services like vacuuming, etc, mentioned as ways to expand.

**Beemerboy** · 05-04-2012, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by DeuceRon

It`s not a charity, it`s a fundraiser, plus that`s not the point. The event would be useless if everyone just gave money. These kids love events like this and the more busy they are, the more the money is appreciated. Not to mention, it gets them away from their phones and playstations to enjoy some social activity.

The OP simply asked for suggestions on how to make a `car wash` a better event.

Thanks you got my point. This is not only about raising money for a cause, its about creating team spirit, working together and helping get them to do something other than play with electronics for a while

Originally Posted by Bunky

I understand but if someone cares about their car they should let them touch it. A better solution would be find some other activity that raises money, keeps them busy, but not having to mess with cars.

The good news is that most people do not care (probably safer than a swirl em place since that will scratch the car) so they can still accomplish.

Try googling since there are various items like selling tickets, doing extra services like vacuuming, etc, mentioned as ways to expand.

The people that show up for these are the same ones that are running their cars in scratch-o-matic car washes. Surprisingly the number of people that don`t care how the car is cleaned or washed compared to those that do, is top heavy. Just have a look at those tunnel wash places on a weekend when the weather is good!