Car Wash Fundraisers: Are They Still Worth It?

When you think of classic fundraising ideas, car washes immediately come to mind. Car wash fundraisers have been popular among sports teams, bands, churches, and nonprofits for years. But how do you know if this nostalgic choice is the right one for your needs?

Cleaning cars on a warm, sunny day can build rapport among team members, raise money, and benefit the community. Of course, there are also concerns like expenses, unpredictable weather, and time and energy investments.

Throughout this guide, explore the pros and cons of car wash fundraisers, key steps for success, and other ways to raise money for your cause.

Pros of car wash fundraisers 

When deciding if a car wash fundraiser is right for you, consider if these benefits align with your needs:

• Cost-effective – Car washes are generally inexpensive since you only need to buy a few supplies (like car cleaning mitts and buckets). Plus, many local businesses will let you borrow supplies or donate money to help offset expenses.
  
  
• Morale booster – Running a car wash fundraiser allows your team to work together, fostering camaraderie. It also helps participants understand their part in providing services that benefit the local community.
  
  
• Community engagement opportunities – When your group offers to clean people’s cars, it can spread awareness about your organization or cause, which may lead to continued support.

Car washes have benefits, but you should also understand the potential pitfalls before deciding if they’re right for you.

Cons of car wash fundraisers 

Some common issues with car washes to keep in mind include:

• Unpredictability – You can plan the event for a beautiful, sunny day, but there’s no guarantee that the weather will cooperate. The money you raise depends on whether people stop by; if the weather takes a turn, you could have only a few patrons.
  
  
• Car washing preferences – Some people are particular about washing their cars. This aversion could be due to a fear of paint and exterior damage, chips, or scratches if volunteers don’t understand car cleaning best practices or care for specific makes and models.
  
  
• Environmental impact – Unfortunately, car cleaning products are not always environmentally safe. As one Reddit user points out, "Car washes have to treat their water as wastewater and send it to the sewer system." It may be more difficult to ensure that your runoff doesn’t negatively affect the planet.

If these potentials seem manageable, a car wash could be a suitable fundraiser for your group.

How to run a successful car wash fundraiser 

Thinking a car wash event is the way to go? Here’s all the steps you need to know before you let the suds spill:

Set goals

Think: What do you want to achieve with this event, and how far will it get you to your fundraising goal? For example, say you need to raise $1,000 for new band uniforms; how much should you charge per wash and how many cars would you need to wash? Will you need to run other fundraisers to hit your goal?

Choose a date, time, and suitable location

Your best bet is to choose a time of year with generally favorable weather—like spring, summer, or early fall. Try to choose weekends between 9 a.m.–2 p.m. to bring in the most patrons, and seek locations with high visibility and easy accessibility. You’ll likely need to coordinate with surrounding businesses to ensure you can use their parking lot or property for your car wash (if you’re not hosting the event at your own location).  

Buy and gather supplies

You should also purchase or borrow all the supplies for a car wash. These include hoses, buckets, sponges or car mitts, soap, and drying towels from a store like AutoZone. To help offset the costs, you can borrow these items, secure sponsorships, or make purchases through a RaiseRight program. 

Recruit and schedule volunteers and chaperones

Gather a team who can rinse, clean, and dry cars, hand out snacks or refreshments, and collect payment or donations. Consider scheduling shifts for volunteers to reduce fatigue and restlessness.

Another thing to consider when planning car cleaning fundraisers is the age of your volunteers. For example, if you’re hosting an event for a school or church youth program, you’ll need adults around to help ensure school-age volunteers stay on track.

As Reddit user r/iris_james shares about organizing car wash fundraisers, "We’re careful to have lots of supervision. If any rags or sponges touch the ground, they get cleaned by an adult before they touch a car." A car wash can succeed with a few precautions and careful planning.

Advertise the car wash

People must know about the event before they can come! Post about your fundraiser on social media, including the cause it’s benefiting and the time and date. You can also send out emails, newsletters, or hang flyers. Don’t forget to create signs to advertise or post at busy intersections on the day of your car wash fundraiser.

Learn proper car cleaning techniques

Teach participants how to wash a car properly to prevent residue, scratches, or dings. One common method is to rinse first, then start washing the roof and work your way downward, keeping the car damp throughout the process.

So, is a car wash fundraiser worth it?

The answer: It depends—a car wash fundraiser can be highly profitable if you:

• Can host the event in a densely populated area with plenty of traffic
• Have a big enough group that’s energized and motivated to spend their day cleaning cars
• Can acquire the necessary supplies for free or at a relatively low cost
• Incorporate other fundraising opportunities at the car wash, like selling snacks and soft drinks 

A car wash fundraiser is a great option for quickly raising a significant amount of money in just one day, making it ideal for a fast-turnaround fundraising goal. However, it does require considerable time and effort from multiple people, so it’s important to weigh whether the effort aligns with your needs.

If the funds aren’t urgently needed, you might want to consider a more passive fundraising idea that doesn’t require you to get your hands dirty. 

RaiseRight is the easiest, no-selling fundraising method that doesn’t require you to host events or inconvenience your supporters. Simply buy gift cards to pay for purchases at your favorite retailers or restaurants, or shop online to earn cash back for your group. It fits seamlessly into everyday life—just shop or dine like you normally do and earn up to 20% back with every purchase!

We strongly recommend using RaiseRight in addition to (or in place of) other large-scale or labor-intensive fundraising events like car washes—it's the perfect complement.