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With Back to School on the horizon, one thing is certain: Schools will be in need of fundraisers.
If you’re close to your PTO or PTA, you could suggest a Drive Through Decals fundraiser event to raise money for your school.
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What is a Drive Through Decals Fundraiser?
The premise behind a Drive Through Decals event is simple: Customers line up in their cars and make their way through an assembly line to get a decal applied to their car. The school buys the decals (from a small business owner like you!) and upcharges to make a profit.
Organizing the Drive Through Decal Event for a School
- Plan to hold the event in the school parking lot. Immediately before or after school or an event is ideal.
- Make up flyers with the time and date of the event, location of the event, a picture of the decal to be applied, and the cost. I’d charge between $5 and $8 and accept cash only. A design with the school or sports logo is perfect!
- Stop 1: Customer pays for the decal. Be sure to have an extra jar for additional donations available, as well as extra decals that the customer can purchase and apply themselves.
- Stop 2: A spot on the back window is cleaned with a paper towel and alcohol for the decal to be applied.
- Stop 3: The decal is applied and the transfer tape is removed. The customer drives away.
Decal Crafting Tips
- Decals that are around 4 inches by 4 inches work great for Drive Through Decals Events. All cars will have the same decal applied to them during the event.
- Consider using white for the decals. This will ensure that they can be seen even on car windows with darker tints.
- Decals should be precut in adhesive vinyl (Oracal 651 or similar), weeded, and have transfer tape applied before the event.
- A few helpers during the event will make it run faster and smoother. Use common sense if having children help, since cars will be moving around.
It’s that simple to host a Drive Through Decals event and you can plan them quite quickly. As the small business owner, you can be present and run the event yourself, or simply provide the decals and let the PTO/PTA handle the actual event.
Don’t Limit Drive Through Decal Fundraisers to Schools!
Of course, a Drive Through Decals fundraiser isn’t limited to schools! Try it for your child’s sports team, theater group, or any other group seeking funding.
Since 2015, Christine Schinagl has been helping crafters start and run craft businesses through her blog, Cutting for Business. As a Silhouette and Cricut crafter herself, she has a unique take on what works and what doesn’t work in the craft business world. She also enjoys teaching other crafters how to create digital SVG designs, available through the Design with Me series.
Dayna
Friday 8th of December 2017
What do you suggest on figuring out how many decals to make? Ask people to RSVP or reserve decals prior to the event? I'd be afraid of making 50 decals and having 150 cars show up.
Christine
Friday 8th of December 2017
I'd plan to make more than needed and sell the extras off after the event.
Sharon
Friday 16th of June 2017
Is it appropriate to offer this to someone wanting to raise money but keeping enough to pay for the supplies and effort that I put into it? Or is that a no no?
Christine
Sunday 18th of June 2017
Yes, it is.
Teresa D.
Thursday 15th of June 2017
What a great idea for a fund raiser!
Christine
Sunday 18th of June 2017
It's fast and easy to put together, too!
Mary-Ann LeClair
Thursday 15th of June 2017
Is there a price range that you usually try to keep to when doing this for fundraiser?
Christine
Thursday 15th of June 2017
$5 is a great price per car.
Kathy Unger
Thursday 15th of June 2017
Christine, I love this idea. What a fun way to get your product out there. It's kind of like a car wash but, with decals. Awesome idea! Thank you so much! Your the greatest! We really look forward each morning to opening up your page and seeing what you are talking about today. Thank you again! You are appreciated and loved!!!
Christine
Thursday 15th of June 2017
Thanks Kathy! Yes, just like a car wash! :)