​​Becoming a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash Partner

The River-Friendly Fundrai​​ser Carwash Program provides an opportunity to partner with local fundraiser groups to prevent pollution of creeks and rivers from traditional fundraiser carwash activities. 

By signing up to participate in this great program, your business has the o​​pportunity to:

  • Be seen as a steward of the environment in your community
  • Become involved with local fundraiser groups, their friends and families
  • Increase your customer base and create loyalty as a result of your commitment to this program

​Any business located within the boundaries of Sacramento County and its incorporated cities can become a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash Partner as long as your site is able to host a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash that does not allow any wastewater discharge into the storm drain system.
The River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash Program is specifically interested in fostering partnerships with:

  • Commercial carwash facilities
  • Retail gas stations/convenience stores
  • Parks & School districts
  • Other businesses that often host fundraiser car washing activities (like retail stores, tire stores, hardware stores, etc.)

At this time, the River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash program is limited to businesses located within the boundaries of Sacramento County and its incorporated cities due to funding constraints. However, we value the support and dedication of any business in preventing stormwater pollution. Therefore, businesses which are outside our jurisdictional boundaries that are otherwise eligible to participate in our program may enroll for special courtesy listing as an “Out Of County Program Affiliate.” However, Program Affiliates will not receive a program certificate.​

Besides being recognized as a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash Partner by the community and fundraising groups, there are many other benefits associated with participation in this program including:

  • ​Receiving a certificate from the Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership that recognizes you as a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash Partner
  • Promotion of your business on the Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership and Business Environmental Resource Center (BERC) websites as a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash Partner
  • Ability to market your business in a new and unique way in a tough competitive market
  • Gaining exposure to potential new customers who are introduced to your business through the River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash fundraisers you host​

For Commercial Carwash Facilities of any type…

Commercial carwash facilities can easily partner with fundraising groups so that both your business and the fundraising groups make money, conserve water and minimize the amount of pollution that goes into our creeks and rivers. Your business can participate regardless of whether it is a full-service, automated, or serf service carwash.

  • Here are just a few ways your commercial carwash can get involved:
  • ​Pre-sell discounted wash cards to fundraising groups
  • Provide profit-sharing vouchers or tickets to the fundraising groups to sell for their event
  • Methods of sharing profits might include:
    1. Require a deposit up front for the discounted value of the vouchers, then refund the fundraiser group for vouchers not sold, or
    2. Provide the vouchers at no charge and invoice the fundraiser group at a discounted rate for the number of vouchers redeemed for their event
  • Honor a flyer advertising carwashes for an agreed upon amount and donate a percentage of profits to fundraising groups. For example, donate a percentage of sales to the fundraiser group from customers who mention the event or show a flyer for the event
  • Donate or rent at a discounted daily rate a "bay for a day" for the fundraising event
  • Allow fundraising groups to use for free, or at a discounted rate, a vacuum bay for conducting interior cleaning (You may want to contact your insurance company before pursing options involving fundraiser group labor at your facility.)
  • Develop any other program through which your business can share profits with fundraising groups

Additional information on successful ways to partner with fundraising groups can be found on the Western Carwash Association’s website​.

For Parks, Schools/School Districts or Facilities With Large Accessible Landscaped ​​Areas… 

Educate yourself on the measures required to h​old a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash and open your facility to partnership opportunities with fundraiser groups.

​Here are some ways you can get involved:

  • Work with fundraiser groups to allow fundraiser carwash events in accessible open landscaped areas where car washing wastewater can be fully absorbed into landscaping instead of discharging into the storm drain system
  • Do you have pervious concrete in an area large enough to accommodate a fundraiser event? Consider working with fundraiser events to specifically utilize these areas for fundraiser carwash events. The event can be planned to ensure that wastewater will drain through the concrete to landscaping
  • Do you have a large parking area that could be utilized for a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash fundraiser event as long as the fundraiser group implemented measures the specific measures that make its event River-Friendly? Consider allowing the use of these areas for fundraiser groups that implement River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash measures in their events
  • ​Consider getting the equipment needed to design a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash (this could include obtaining the means to block any nearby storm drains that could be impacted, getting a shop vac for wastewater collection, having portable berms—if you want to create a collection area, providing spray nozzles with automatic shut-off mechanisms, etc) and offering it to fundraiser groups for use during their event at your site​

For All Other Businesses… 

Educate yourself on the measures required to hold a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash and open your facility to partnership opportunities with fundraiser groups.

Here are some ways you can get involved:

  • Do you have a large parking area that could be utilized for a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash fundraiser event as long as the fundraiser group implemented measures the specific measures that make its event River-Friendly? Consider allowing the use of these areas for fundraiser groups that implement River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash measures in their events
  • ​Consider getting the equipment needed to design a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash and offering it to fundraiser groups for use during their event at your site (this could include obtaining the means to block any nearby storm drains that could be impacted, getting a shop vac for wastewater collection, having portable berms—if you want to create a collection area, providing spray nozzles with automatic shut-off mechanisms, etc.​)​
Being a River-Friendly Fundraiser Carwash Partner is a valuable community service that can provide real benefits to your business.