Vehicle donation fundraising can be a powerful and sustainable revenue channel for religious broadcasters, especially those looking to diversify giving without adding staff or operational complexity. Since partnering with Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS) in 2018, Relevant Radio has raised over $4 million through vehicle donations.
Garyn Coulson, SVP of Revenue and Advancement at Relevant Radio, oversees strategic partnerships, including the station’s partnership with CARS. From his perspective, vehicle donations work especially well for radio because they align with what many audiences already have available, noting: “Our listeners seem to have an endless stream of aging vehicles, and this is a win-win situation for all.” For many religious broadcasters, this means vehicle donations tap into an asset donors already have—without asking them to change their giving behavior or budget.
For stations evaluating whether to add vehicle donations as a giving option, the appeal is both practical and strategic. The process is designed to be donor-friendly and low-lift for station teams. Stations gain a fully managed fundraising channel—without handling vehicles, donor calls, towing, or compliance—while still receiving the net proceeds
Relevant Radio also keeps promotion simple and broadcast-native: “We promote the vehicle donation program with on-air 30-second promos, in addition to 10–15 second live reads by our show hosts,” says Coulson. It’s a repeatable model that other stations can adopt quickly, leveraging trusted on-air voices and consistent messaging without adding major production burden. Because these promotions fit seamlessly into existing programming, stations can generate ongoing revenue using airtime they already control—without launching a new campaign or major creative effort.
For religious broadcasters looking to diversify fundraising without increasing operational burden, Relevant Radio’s success shows what’s possible. Vehicle donations offer a rare combination of scalable revenue, a fully managed donor experience, and promotion tactics that fit seamlessly into existing on-air programming. With the potential to generate millions in net proceeds, vehicle donations can become a dependable, long-term revenue stream—not a one-time campaign. To explore how your station can get started with the CARS Vehicle Donation Program, email Brynn Wheaton at brynnw@careasy.org or Bianca Barlas at biancab@careasy.org.